ISLAMABAD, Oct 23 (APP): Federal Minister for Railways Muhammad Hanif Abbasi on Thursday said that the government was committed to transforming Pakistan Railways into a modern and efficient service provider that meets global standards.
Addressing the Regional Transport Ministers’ International Conference, the minister said the event was a reminder that transport was not merely about the movement of goods and people, but also about creating new opportunities, fostering economic growth, and strengthening regional and global ties.
He highlighted that Pakistan Railways, one of the oldest and most extensive railway networks in South Asia, had embarked on a journey of modernization focused on efficiency, transparency and improved service delivery in both passenger and freight sectors.
Abbasi said that digitization and modernization were central to enhancing the railway’s digital footprint and improving service delivery. To increase efficiency and service quality, a number of passenger and freight trains were being outsourced to the private sector under public-private partnership models.
The minister described Main Line-I (ML-I) as the “main artery” of Pakistan Railways, carrying around 80 percent of passenger and 90 percent of freight operations. He said that its up-gradation was critical for enhancing operational capacity and opening new avenues for regional connectivity.
He also underlined the importance of upgrading Main Line-II (Kotri-Attock) and mentioned the Uzbekistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan Railway Corridor (UAPRC) as a transformative project connecting Pakistan’s seaports with landlocked Central Asian Republics. The project includes the construction of a 192-kilometer rail link from Kohat to Kharlachi.
Efforts are also underway, Abbasi said, to upgrade Main Line-III (Quetta-Taftan), which connects Pakistan with Iran, Turkiye, and beyond through the ITI freight train — a flagship project under the Economic Cooperation Organization. The project would also facilitate the transport of minerals from Balochistan’s Chaghi region to Karachi ports.
He added that plans for Main Line-IV (ML-IV) were in progress to connect Gwadar Port with the existing railway network, contributing to the port’s development.
Referring to the Thar Coal Railway Project, the minister said it would enable the transport of coal from Thar to Karachi ports and link Thar coal mines with ML-I.
He also mentioned an upcoming freight train service from Pakistan to Belarus via Iran, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, and Russia, as well as ongoing efforts to establish additional links to boost connectivity with Central Asian states.
Abbasi said Pakistan’s railway system was being designed to deliver a future where connectivity drives development. “We remain fully committed to working with our regional partners to facilitate cross-border operations and share our vision of a connected, developed, and peaceful region,” he added.