Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday inaugurated upgraded waiting areas and lounges at Karachi Cantt Railway Station. He also launched the New Shalimar Express during his day-long visit. Senior federal and provincial leaders joined him as Pakistan Railways showcased its latest improvements.
The prime minister said modern facilities and digital systems would strengthen the railway network. He noted that Karachi Cantt Station now matches Lahore’s upgraded model. He added that the federal and Sindh governments would jointly modernise the Karachi Circular Railway and improve all stations across the province. The new Shalimar Express, revamped for the Karachi–Lahore route, was introduced as part of these reforms.
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Shehbaz praised Railways Minister Hanif Abbasi for accelerating progress. He said the government aims to extend rail links to Central Asia, including the Uzbekistan–Afghanistan–Pakistan corridor. He also highlighted efforts to restore the Islamabad–Istanbul rail route. Moreover, he confirmed ongoing talks with the Asian Development Bank for a $2 billion loan to support railway upgrades.
The prime minister said 154 stations had already been modernised nationwide. He assured full cooperation for Sindh’s request to include the Karachi Circular Railway in the CPEC framework. He called the initiative vital for Karachi, which he described as the “heart of Pakistan.” Abbasi added that Rs1 billion was being spent on upgrading Rohri Station and that 14 trains were being outsourced to improve efficiency.
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Earlier, Shehbaz inspected upgraded facilities at Cantt Station, including the CIP lounge, dining hall and digital ticketing system. Foreign diplomats, parliamentarians, and senior officials attended the ceremony. Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah welcomed the premier and pledged full support for ongoing rail modernisation efforts.