Karachi, November 17, 2025: Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Monday said that the digitization and modernization of Pakistan Railways, along with the provision of state-of-the-art facilities for passengers, would play a pivotal role in strengthening the national economy.
He made these remarks while inaugurating the newly upgraded Shalimar Express and modernized facilities at Karachi Cantt Railway Station, including refurbished waiting rooms and a CIP lounge. Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, Federal Minister for Railways Muhammad Hanif Abbasi, Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar, and senior federal and provincial officials attended the ceremony.
The prime minister said the federal government, together with the Sindh government, was committed to overhauling the Karachi Circular Railway (KCR) and upgrading railway stations across Sindh and other provinces. “After the successful revamping of Lahore Railway Station, Karachi Cantt Station has now been transformed to meet modern standards,” he said, praising Railways Minister Hanif Abbasi for his “tireless efforts” in modernizing the sector.
PM Shehbaz said that cooperation with the governments of Sindh, Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Balochistan would be enhanced to ensure nationwide improvements in the railway system. He added that Pakistan Railways’ freight operations were also being reorganized, and the federal and Sindh governments were jointly executing the Thar Coal transportation project with equal investment.
“Karachi is not only the economic hub but also the heart of Pakistan,” he remarked, noting that the Shalimar Express running between Karachi and Lahore had been upgraded into a modern train to improve long-distance travel.
The premier outlined plans to expand the railway network to Central Asia, highlighting the proposed Uzbekistan–Afghanistan–Pakistan railway link. He also emphasized reviving the Islamabad–Tehran–Istanbul rail corridor to bolster regional trade and economic growth.
PM Shehbaz said the government was in talks with the Asian Development Bank for a $2 billion loan to upgrade the Karachi–Rohri section of the main line, which would eventually connect to the Reko Diq project. He also assured Sindh’s chief minister that the federal government supported including the KCR in the China–Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), calling the project “vital for Karachi’s commuters.” He expressed hope that the project would soon materialize.
The prime minister noted that 54 railway stations had already been modernized nationwide and said he would recommend a presidential award for the railways minister once the remaining stations were upgraded. He reaffirmed that modernization efforts would continue in coordination with all provinces.
Earlier, Railways Minister Hanif Abbasi said significant progress had been made in just eight months under the prime minister’s guidance. He said Rs 1 billion was being spent on upgrading Rohri Station, while work was underway at Karachi City Station. He added that 14 trains were being outsourced, and railway hospitals and schools were being transferred to private administration under government policy, with assurances of full job protection for employees. He confirmed ongoing progress on the ML-1 project as well.
Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah welcomed the prime minister to Karachi and reaffirmed the provincial government’s full cooperation in railway infrastructure development.
The prime minister later cut a ribbon and unveiled a plaque to formally inaugurate the new Shalimar Express. He also inspected the digitized ticketing system, upgraded waiting rooms, CIP lounge, and dining hall, accompanied by federal ministers, senior railway officials, and the IG Railways. The event was attended by foreign diplomats, parliamentarians, and senior government officers.
