Summary Railways Minister Hanif Abbasi says Pakistan Railways earned Rs115 billion in revenue, became profitable for the first time, and targets Rs65 billion profit next year.
ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – Federal Minister for Railways Hanif Abbasi has claimed that Pakistan Railways has become profitable for the first time in its 78-year history, generating Rs115 billion in revenue, while setting a Rs65 billion profit target for the next fiscal year.
Speaking to the media on Monday, the minister said 80 locomotives are expected to join the Pakistan Railways fleet by March 23, while the privatization of five train services has generated Rs3 billion in revenue. He added that the privatization process for additional train services is also underway.
Abbasi said three new rakes for the Awam Express have already arrived, while the refurbishment of the Karakoram Express, Millat Express and several other trains is scheduled to be completed by June 2026.
The minister said Pakistan Railways has achieved a historic milestone by earning Rs41 billion from its freight operations, attributing the growth to the efficient use of all available rolling stock and uninterrupted cargo transportation to and from ports.
Highlighting future development plans, Abbasi said the ML-1, ML-2 and ML-3 railway projects are essential for modernising the country's rail network. He said discussions with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) on the ML-1 project are continuing and that the project will soon be presented to the prime minister for formal inauguration.
According to the minister, the completion of the ML-1 project will reduce travel time between Rohri and Karachi by approximately five hours, while ML-2 will attract investment through a public-private partnership model.
Abbasi also announced that eight branch railway routes will be constructed across all four provinces for the first time. He said the Orange Train service will be expanded to rural areas, the Government of Balochistan has allocated funds for the People's Train project, and agreements for two new railway routes in Sindh will be signed soon.
He added that Rohri Junction will be rebuilt as a modern railway facility, while a state-of-the-art guard room and rest area have already been completed in Rawalpindi. Similar facilities will also be established in Khanewal, Kotri, Rohri, Lahore and Peshawar.
The minister said Pakistan Railways has begun rebuilding dilapidated railway residential quarters instead of waiting for tragic incidents to occur. He added that Rs500 million in General Provident Fund (GP Fund) payments has been released to railway employees.
Abbasi further announced reforms in railway schools to improve educational standards and said that, following the privatization of railway hospitals, employees will be entitled to free medical treatment worth up to Rs2.5 million.
He also claimed that railway accidents have declined compared to last year, adding that all railway contracts are now awarded through open auctions rather than preferential arrangements. Citing an example, he said the Badami Bagh auction generated Rs450 million, significantly higher than the previous Rs52 million.
The minister concluded by saying he had used his official railway saloon only once and had never issued complimentary railway tickets to household staff.
