In a move that could transform how millions of Pakistanis travel and ship goods, the Punjab government has pledged Rs 350 billion to help upgrade and dualise railway tracks in the province.
The announcement was made by Railways Minister Hanif Abbasi while briefing the National Assembly Standing Committee on Railways on Friday. Abbasi shared that Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz expressed her willingness to back the plan during a recent meeting in Lahore, calling it an essential step toward modernising Pakistan’s struggling railway network.
Focus on the Game-Changing ML-1 Project
At the center of these plans lies the Main Line-1 (ML-1) project—a flagship scheme under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). ML-1 is aiming to completely overhaul Pakistan’s primary rail artery from Karachi to Peshawar.
With a price tag of $6.8 billion, the project is making promises to cut travel times, boost safety, and make freight movement smoother—something that can help integrate Pakistan’s economy with Central Asia and other regional markets.
Abbasi told the committee that if international funding doesn’t come through as expected, Pakistan might still try to launch the project using its own resources. He reaffirmed that talks with China are ongoing to secure investment for making the most important upgradation.
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Record Earnings Signal Railways’ Potential
Despite the challenges, there was positive news too. Abbasi revealed that Pakistan Railways (PR) had achieved a record Rs 93 billion in earnings for the 2024–25 fiscal year—the highest in its 78-year history.
Breaking down the numbers, he said Rs 47.5 billion came from passenger services while Rs 31.5 billion was generated by freight operations. By comparison, Pakistan Railways earned Rs 88 billion the previous year.
New Plans for Freight and Rest Houses
To further improve operations, the minister explained that PR is outsourcing its freight services to the private sector. According to him, several multinational companies have already shown strong interest.
Freight is a critical growth area for Pakistan Railways, which currently handles only about 5–8 percent of the country’s freight needs. Committee members stressed that better services are urgently needed to meet domestic demand and support trade.
Abbasi also shared plans to outsource all PR rest houses to reputable companies to ensure better upkeep and utilisation.
Royal Palm Club Auction Update
The meeting even touched on the long-running saga of Lahore’s Royal Palm Golf and Country Club. The Railways Board secretary said 12 bids were anticipated for its lease, with the opening set for July 22. Importantly, the entire leasing process is being supervised by the Supreme Court to make sure transparency prevails.
All-inclusively, the Punjab government’s massive dedication and the Railways Ministry’s new strategies show a clear intention to revive and modernise Pakistan’s lifeline rail network, with hopes of better, faster, and safer journeys ahead for everyone.