RAWALPINDI: Federal Minister for Railways Hanif Abbasi on Saturday said that Pakistan Railways would launch the Main Line-II (ML-II) project at an estimated cost of $2.5 billion in collaboration with the National Logistics Cell (NLC) and DP World.

“Our biggest problem is the old railway track, but we will overcome these issues,” he said while inaugurating the upgradation of platforms No. 4 and 5 at Rawalpindi Railway Station.

He said that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had directed that no negligence be tolerated in the improvement of Pakistan Railways, particularly in the restoration of tracks. He made these remarks after inaugurating the completion of the upgradation work at the station. ML-II is an important route measuring nearly 1,250 kilometres.

There are over 90 operational railway stations from Kotri to Attock, including many in interior Sindh. Important stations on the route include Kotri, Sehwan Sharif, Dadu, Mohenjodaro, Larkana, Shah Nawaz Bhutto, Habibkot, Shikarpur, Jacobabad, Kandkot, Kot Mithan, Rajanpur, Jampur, DG Khan, Shadan Lund, Bhakkar, Piplan, Mianwali, Jand and Attock City.

The minister termed the resumption of the Jaffar Express and Bolan Express services in Balochistan a major achievement. He also announced that a $2 billion project for the 480-kilometre Karachi–Rohri section had been approved by the Asian Development Bank and was expected to begin by the end of July this year.

He further revealed that an agreement had been signed with the Frontier Works Organisation for digitalisation, under which every railway station would be transformed into a smart and secure facility. He said significant improvements were planned outside Lahore Railway Station, with Rs2 billion allocated by Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz for the project.

A safari train has also been launched in Thar, with similar initiatives to be introduced in other suitable areas. Mr Abbasi said legislation had been passed allowing provinces to invest in railway projects without procedural hurdles, paving the way for broader development of the rail network.

Regarding the international route, he spoke about the proposed 840-kilometre railway corridor linking Chaman with Kandahar, Herat and Turkmenistan, stating that the project would connect Pakistan to Central Asia and enhance regional trade.

“Pakistan Railways officials have been tasked with completing targets related to railway improvements by June 30,” he said, adding that officials who failed to meet the stipulated deadline would not retain their positions.

The minister said a freight train was planned up to the Quetta–Taftan border with Iran. “If there were no attacks, we were ready to run the freight train,” he said.

He also said the People’s Train would cover Quetta and that the Balochistan government would fund it. New stations would be constructed for the People’s Train, he added.

He said eight freight trains were previously operating from Rohri to Karachi; the number had now increased to 10, with a target of 12 daily. The minister said Pakistan Railways had adopted a new policy for its schools and hospitals, adding that within a year, noticeable improvements would be made in schools so that children of Pakistan Railways employees could access better education.

Apart from Rawalpindi Railway Hospital, he said, other railway hospitals were in poor condition and would be outsourced.

Commenting on national politics, Mr Abbasi said he would not make fun of anyone’s illness and that anyone who was sick should receive treatment. “But no one should attempt to seek a pardon by using illness as an excuse,” he said.

He said the PTI had aired videos of Nawaz Sharif, Kulsoom Nawaz and Shehbaz Sharif, claiming they had been denied their rights in prison.

“I have been in three jails. In all three, there was no personal doctor; a government doctor used to visit. I would ask them to call Dr Umar, but the jail administration would say that I was a prisoner and would be provided only what jail rules allowed,” he said.

Published in Dawn, February 15th, 2026