ISLAMABAD — Federal Minister for Railways Hanif Abbasi on Tuesday said the redevelopment of Karachi Railway Station will make it “many times larger and more modern” than its counterpart in Lahore, as part of a sweeping upgrade of Pakistan Railways’ infrastructure and services.
Speaking to reporters, Abbasi said work on key passenger facilities at Karachi station including escalators, family waiting halls and modernised seating areas has been completed. He added that renovation work at Faisalabad station is scheduled to begin on November 1, while Rohri station is being upgraded at a cost of Rs800 million.
The minister said an ambitious project to upgrade the 500-kilometre Karachi-Rohri rail link is already under way and will be completed within two and a half years. The corridor is being rebuilt under a $2 billion programme, he said, and added that Saudi investors had expressed interest in further upgrading the line from Rohri to Peshawar.
Abbasi said reforms at Pakistan Railways extend beyond civil works. “We are running four new trains between Rawalpindi, Islamabad and Lahore, and improving cleanliness and passenger facilities at major stations across the country,” he told the media.
Addressing recent security concerns, the minister defended the continued operation of the Jaffar Express, calling the service “the chain of Pakistan” and saying it must not be stopped by any conspiracy. He warned that those responsible for proxy attacks would be answered decisively. “Every railway worker is a frontline soldier in the defence of the country,” he said, paying tribute to martyrs and promising a stern response to any assault on national infrastructure.
Abbasi also framed the upgrades as part of a broader national effort. “The country is safe because of the sacrifices of our martyrs,” he said. “The nation is united and there will be no compromise on the defence of the homeland.” He described recent operations in Swat as a matter of honour and said Pakistan’s regional stature was rising alongside the prime minister’s diplomatic engagements.
The minister’s remarks underline a dual focus on modernising transport infrastructure while strengthening security measures for the rail network a priority he said that will continue as the government moves ahead with the planned projects.
