Major rail-based transport plan approved to connect cities in Sindh
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KARACHI: The Sindh and federal governments on Thursday approved a massive rail-based suburban transport plan aimed at reviving the province’s railway network and providing city-to-city connectivity for nearly 37 million people, covering 67 per cent of the province’s population.
At a meeting with Federal Railways Minister Hanif Abbasi, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah also pledged to immediately allocate Rs6.6billion to replace 100 of the province’s 308 manned railway crossings and carry out a comprehensive rehabilitation of the rail system.
He also directed to roll out six new trains in the first phase, with another six to follow in the next phase, while ordering the release of the money without delay.
The chief minister said that the government’s objective was to connect remote areas of Sindh with modern, affordable and safe transport facilities. “The railways project will reduce traffic pressure on roads and provide safe ‘city centre to city centre’ connectivity for commuters and employees,” he said.
Murad allocates Rs6.6bn for comprehensive rehabilitation of railway system; Hanif Abbasi says Centre-Sindh cooperation will open a new chapter in PR history
Minister Abbasi said that cooperation between the federal and Sindh governments would open a new chapter in the history of Pakistan Railways, adding that the railways ministry would extend full technical support and provide the required right of way for the project.
The two sides also agreed to finalise and sign a 25-year partnership framework agreement for long-term collaboration on railway development projects.
The Sindh cabinet had in December approved the Rs6.6bn railway initiative covering an 858km network across six key corridors, from KotriDadu to HyderabadBadin. The initiative also included funding for 100 upgraded crossings and six new trains.
The plan proposes the rehabilitation of the track across six key routes, including 181km Kotri–Dadu, 166km Dadu–Larkana–Habib Kot, 200km Hyderabad–Mirpurkhas–Marvi, 87km Rohri–Jacobabad, 124km Jacobabad–Kashmore Colony, and 100km Hyderabad–Badin.
A press release issued by the CM House said that the chief minister and the federal minister in their decisive meeting agreed on the multi-billion-rupee plan to modernise the provincial railway network, starting from Karachi to Kashmore and Karachi to Tharparkar, to provide state-of-the-art transportation to millions.
It said that the ambitious project aimed to serve approximately 37 million people, accounting for 67 per cent of Sindh’s total population.
The CM said, “We are ready to invest Rs6.6bn to replace 100 out of the 308 manned railway crossings across the province, rehabilitate the railway system, and launch six trains from its resources in the first phase and another six in the next phase,” ordering the immediate release of the funds.
He added that the Sindh government was also considering funding the restoration of the 858-kilometre railway network, with human safety and passenger comfort as top priorities.
The meeting, held at the CM House, was attended among others by Sindh Transport Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon and Secretary Transport Asad Zamin, Railways Secretary Mazhar Ali Shah and Railway General Manager Aamir Baloch and other senior officers.
The provincial transport minister said that travel time between Kotri and Dadu would be reduced by approximately one and a half hours after the project.
A total investment of Rs63.26bn has been outlined, which includes Rs33bn for core infrastructure rehabilitation, Rs27.6bn for the procurement of six modern Diesel Multiple Unit (DMU) train sets, and Rs2.66bn for dedicated maintenance facilities.
Under the proposed business model, the Sindh government will contribute 100 per cent of the infrastructure costs, while Pakistan Railways will provide the right of way (RoW) and necessary approvals.
The meeting also reached consensus on a proposal worth Rs6bn to make 308 unmanned railway crossings safe by converting them into manned crossings, aimed at preventing accidents and ensuring public safety.
Rohri Railway Station
A specific focus was placed on the upgradation of Rohri Railway Station, with an estimated investment of Rs999.97m. The project includes the beautification of platforms, installation of six escalators, renovation of station buildings, and the construction of a solar-powered water filtration plant.
It was decided that the station would be upgraded within six months.
Published in Dawn, January 9th, 2026
