Pakistan’s railway system is about to get a big upgrade with new support from the Punjab government. Railways Minister Hanif Abbasi shared that Punjab is ready to spend Rs. 350 billion to improve and expand railway tracks all over the province. He talked about this plan during a meeting with the National Assembly Standing Committee on Railways.
According to Abbasi, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz strongly backs this step. She believes better train services will make life easier for people and help Pakistan grow faster. This move is part of a bigger plan to modernize the country’s entire railway system so that it can handle more passengers and goods in less time.
One of the most important parts of this plan is the Main Line-1 (ML-1) project. ML-1 will upgrade the main railway line that connects Karachi to Peshawar. The total cost of this huge project is about $6.8 billion. Once it is finished, the speed and safety of trains will get much better. People will be able to travel faster between cities, and businesses will be able to send goods more quickly.
This project is also linked with the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), which is meant to strengthen trade ties. A stronger railway system will help Pakistan connect better with countries in Central Asia. This can open new doors for trade and jobs for people at home.
With this big investment, the government hopes the railway system will become modern and reliable, bringing benefits for many years to come.
