LAHORE – Minister for Railways Hanif Abbasi on Tuesday said that Pakistan Railways is committed to reducing operational costs and enhancing connectivity to facilitate the business community and strengthen the national economy.
Speaking at the Lahore Chamber of Commerce & Industry (LCCI), Abbasi said Pakistan has regained its global reputation as a peace-loving nation, adding, “We are not terrorists but ambassadors of peace.” He credited the country’s successful foreign policy for improving Pakistan’s international image, saying that countries like China, the United States, and those in the Middle East now view Pakistan more positively.
The minister emphasized that the present time offers the best opportunity to rebuild Pakistan’s economy, urging the business sector to invest confidently. “When investment comes, industries run and the country progresses,” he noted, adding that national security ensures national development.
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Abbasi also highlighted the government’s railway reform agenda, stating that 400 kilometers of new track are being laid and 484 kilometers are being upgraded. He said Rs. 2 billion have been allocated for the Lahore–Rawalpindi track, reducing travel time between the two cities to 2.5 hours. Major upgrades are also underway at Lahore, Karachi, Faisalabad, Rawalpindi, and Rohri stations, with the Rohri–Karachi project worth Rs. 2 billion expected to be approved in July.
He added that the Narowal section and Lodhran station are being uplifted, while environmental initiatives, including tree plantation from Shahdara to Raiwind, are in progress.
LCCI President Faheem-ur-Rehman Saigol welcomed the government’s initiatives, calling the railway upgrades a critical step toward economic growth. Abbasi reaffirmed that stakeholders will be consulted in all major decisions, stressing that “those who call taxpayers thieves are themselves thieves.”
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The minister concluded that Pakistan aims to balance passenger and freight revenues, as the country currently earns more from passengers — a situation unique in the world.