ISLAMABAD:
Minister for Railways Hanif Abbasi stated on Tuesday that 200 advanced Chinese trains are currently being manufactured at the Railway Carriage Factory under a technology transfer agreement.
He made these remarks while speaking at the “Meet the Press” event at the National Press Club in the federal capital.
Abbasi called the development of Pakistan Railways (PR) key to the country’s progress, highlighting the major initiatives taken during his first 100 days in office that have resulted in meaningful improvements.
He said the uplift of PR is also vital for the success of strategic projects such as Thar Coal, Reko Diq, and regional connectivity. “Without the upgradation of ML-1, ML-2, and ML-3, the development of railways cannot be envisioned,” he stated.
Abbasi maintained that 200 advanced Chinese trains are currently being manufactured at the Railway Carriage Factory through a technology transfer agreement.
On the occasion, he noted that the Punjab government had allocated billions in the 2025-26 budget, including Rs250 billion for three years for the renewal of the Lahore-Rawalpindi track — expected to reduce travel time between the two cities to two hours and benefit over 30 million people.
Additionally, Rs50 billion was earmarked for the development of eight railway stations, and Rs9 billion allocated for the upgradation of level crossings across Punjab to help reduce accidents.
The minister shared that the Balochistan government has allocated Rs3 billion, with a commitment to increase the amount, for upgrading existing stations and establishing new ones. He added that development initiatives are also being planned in Sindh and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.
Highlighting passenger amenities, Abbasi said that steps have been taken to improve the overall passenger experience – including the establishment of information desks, sanitation facilities, upgraded food outlets at stations, a modern helpline system, and other services.
