Islamabad: The Senate Standing Committee on Railways, chaired by Senator Jam Saifullah Khan, convened at Parliament House to evaluate the current and future strategies of Pakistan Railways, amidst discussions on financial sustainability and modernization efforts.

According to Senate of Pakistan, Secretary of the Ministry of Railways, Syed Mazhar Ali Shah, briefed the committee on various challenges and initiatives, highlighting the railways’ potential as a safer and more environmentally friendly transport option compared to roadways. Shah detailed financial constraints, with a significant portion of the budget allocated to pensions and operational costs, leaving minimal funds for essential maintenance.

Efforts towards self-reliance were discussed, including increasing the market share of railways and exploring public-private partnerships to fund modern ‘smart railway cars’ for key routes. The cost of these initiatives is estimated at around 45 million USD. The committee also examined the ongoing ML-1 upgradation project, which aims to improve tracks from Karachi to Peshawar, with a focus on enhancing connectivity and economic benefits.

Future sessions will look into the performance of railway workshops in Islamabad and Lahore, and strategic planning will include considerations for climate change and expanding the use of renewable energy within railway operations.