Railways Minister Hanif Abbasi told the National Assembly Standing Committee on Railways that the Punjab government has expressed readiness to provide Rs. 350 billion for upgrading and dualizing railway tracks within the province.
The minister shared that during a meeting with Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, she showed a strong interest in supporting the infrastructure initiative. The proposed funding aligns with the government’s broader plan to modernise Pakistan’s railway system, including the key Main Line-1 (ML-1) project.
ML-1, a major component of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), aims to upgrade the Karachi–Peshawar railway line. With an estimated cost of $6.8 billion, the project is expected to cut travel time, improve efficiency, and boost regional trade and connectivity, especially with Central Asian countries.
Abbasi added that if international financing does not come through, the federal government is prepared to start work using its resources. Talks with China for investment in ML-1 are still ongoing.
The minister also announced that Pakistan Railways earned a record Rs. 93 billion in fiscal year 2024–25 — the highest in its 78-year history. Passenger services contributed Rs. 47.5 billion and freight services Rs. 31.5 billion. In the previous fiscal year, total earnings were Rs. 88 billion.
