ISLAMABAD – In a major step toward green energy, the government has decided to switch 155 railway stations in Pakistan to solar power. This change will help reduce fuel costs and save millions of rupees. The plan was discussed in a high-level meeting chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif at the PM House on Wednesday.
Federal Railways Minister Hanif Abbasi briefed the PM on the reforms in Pakistan Railways. He said that trains like the Bolan Mail and Khushhal Khan Khattak Express have resumed daily service. Outsourcing has begun at sleeper factories in Sukkur, Khanewal, and Kohat to improve efficiency.
The government is also outsourcing railway hospitals, schools, and rest houses in major cities like Karachi, Lahore, and Peshawar. The Royal Palm Golf and Country Club in Lahore is up for auction. Officials believe the land could host a five-star hotel, increasing earnings.
Digital upgrades are also moving quickly. The Pakistan Railways IT department is being restructured. Old and unused departments have been shut down. The railway has recovered land worth Rs10 billion. These steps are part of a broader push to modernise the railway system.
The PM asked for faster progress on linking Gwadar to the railway network. He also wants a plan to connect Pakistan with Central Asian countries through rail for better trade. Green belts will also be created along some tracks, and upgrades are coming to rail lines in Punjab and Balochistan.