RAWALPINDI: Federal Minister for Railways Hanif Abbasi on Thursday inaugurated the ‘Safe and Smart Railway Station’, along with an upgraded Commercially Important Person (CIP) lounge and a new waiting area.
The modern ‘Safe and Smart Station System’ has been installed at Rawalpindi Railway Station in collaboration with the Frontier Works Organisation (FWO).
The new system features a foolproof surveillance setup consisting of 143 closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras.
Speaking on the occasion, the minister said Rawalpindi Railway Station had become the first in the country to be equipped with a modern security monitoring system. “The new system will ensure continuous surveillance of the station, its surrounding areas, and the reservation office. The Safe and Smart System will also enable effective monitoring of staff performance,” he said.
He added that the construction of modern CIP lounges at major stations was underway to provide a peaceful environment for passengers.
“Tea and refreshment facilities will also be available in these lounges. Separate waiting areas are being set up for women and families, while free Wi-Fi and ATM machines are being installed at all major stations,” he said.
“The process of replacing old coach racks with refurbished ones is underway. The rakes of three railcars running between Lahore and Rawalpindi have already been replaced, and the fourth will be replaced on November 15,” he said.
The minister added that compulsory snacks for passengers on railcars had also been introduced as part of efforts to make journeys more comfortable. “Providing all possible facilities to passengers is our top priority,” he emphasised.
Mr Abbasi said Faisalabad Station had been renovated according to modern standards, while the Karachi Cantonment Station, equipped with an even more advanced CIP lounge and waiting areas than Lahore, would be inaugurated soon. He said Pakistan Railways was moving towards becoming a modern, safe and passenger-friendly system, and that “the journey of development continues.”
Outlining broader development plans, the minister said the FWO would upgrade the 884-kilometre Rohri–Nokundi track, including the laying of 400 kilometres of new track at the junction of ML-1, ML-2 and ML-3.
The project will be financed by the Asian Development Bank and completed within three years.
He said the project was being carried out under the special interest and vision of the prime minister, adding that the railway development projects reflected the government’s commitment to promoting modern travel facilities in the country. Mr Abbasi said the Ministry of Commerce had been engaged for the Islamabad-Tehran-Istanbul train project, which authorities aimed to launch by December 31.
“Pakistan, Afghanistan and Uzbekistan signed an agreement in July to build a railway link, and Tajikistan has now agreed to fund the project extending from its soil to Chaman, Pakistan, including sections through Turkmenistan, Kandahar, and Herat in Afghanistan. Tajik officials are expected in Pakistan soon to sign a memorandum of understanding in this regard,” he said.
“When completed, this regional connectivity project will provide Pakistan access to Central Asia, Russia, and Europe,” he added. Reaffirming the government’s commitment to modernization, Mr Abbasi said, “Pakistan Railways is rapidly moving towards transformation. We are committed to providing passengers with every possible convenience, and this journey of progress will not stop.”
The minister said three of the 14 railway schools had been outsourced, allowing children of railway employees to receive quality education for Rs1,000 to Rs1,500 per month in fully furnished and air-conditioned classrooms equipped with modern labs. Railways, he added, would receive 17 per cent of the income from these schools. Similarly, railway employees, their children, and parents would receive free treatment at outsourced hospitals.
He further said that plans were underway to improve living conditions for train drivers within the next six months.
Published in Dawn, November 7th, 2025
