Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday appreciating Pakistan Railways for passenger facilitation and the upgradation of rail stations, directed that investment in freight services and the timely completion of mega projects be prioritised for the long-term and sustainable development of the service.
The prime minister, chairing a meeting to review the progress in railway projects, said that a world-class freight service would not only facilitate the transportation of industrial products but also significantly increase the railways’ annual revenue. He directed that prior approval of financial and institutional arrangements for ongoing mega railway projects must be ensured to avoid unnecessary interruptions and delays in their completion.
The prime minister also instructed the provincial and federal governments to work in mutual cooperation for the early completion of Pakistan Railways’ mega projects, particularly ML-1, ML-3, and the Thar Coal Rail Project. He emphasized that the quality and timely completion of mega projects could reduce construction costs and save public money. Prime Minister Shehbaz assured that funds for mega railway projects would be provided in the upcoming budget and that ensuring international standards, administrative transparency, and efficiency in all ongoing projects was among the government’s priorities.
During the meeting, Federal Minister for Railways Hanif Abbasi and the Secretary Railways briefed the participants of the meeting on the initiatives and progress of the projects. The briefing highlighted that due to reform measures in the freight service, a historic revenue of up to Rs 40 billion is expected by June this year. The meeting was attended by federal ministers Hanif Abbasi, Ahad Khan Cheema, Muhammad Aurangzeb, and Ahsan Iqbal, Special Assistant to PM on Industries and Production Haroon Akhtar, and officials of the relevant institutions.