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PM UNDERSCORES SIGNIFICANCE OF RAILWAY SYSTEM AS ‘BACKBONE’ OF ECONOMY Sunday, 23 November, 2025 | 1 Jamadiul Sani, 1447
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PM SHEHBAZ DIRECTS HIRING g EMPHASIZES ADOPTING OF GLOBAL-STANDARD A PUBLIC–PRIVATE EXPERTS, PARTICULARLY FOR PARTNERSHIP MODEL PROJECTS TIED TO FOR GOVERNING REGIONAL CONNECTIVITY RAILWAY’S LAND, ASSETS PRELIMINARY GROUNDWORK UNDERWAY ON KAZAKHSTAN–UZBEKISTAN, AFGHANISTAN–PAKISTAN RAIL CORRIDOR PROJECT: BRIEFING
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MEETING INFORMED OPERATIONS OF ISLAMABAD, TEHRAN, ISTANBUL TRAIN EXPECTED TO BEGIN SOON
PREMIER BRIEFED ON DIGITAL SHIFT OF 56 TRAINS, 54 STATIONS WITH PROVISION OF FREE WI-FI AT MAJOR STATIONS
staff report
RIME Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday underscored the pivotal role of a modern, efficient railway system in driving national economic growth and strengthening regional connectivity, calling it the “backbone of any country’s economy and communication network,” state media reported. Chairing an important meeting on Pakistan Railways at the PM House, the prime minister directed that legal and economic experts of international calibre be hired, particularly for projects tied to regional connectivity and upcoming international train links. He also emphasised adopting a public–private partnership model for the management of railway land and property. The prime minister commended the measures taken so far for reviving the rail system and appreciated Minister for Railways Hanif Abbasi and his team for their efforts in the restoration and upgrade of Pakistan Railways. The meeting was attended by Minister for Railways Hanif Abbasi, Minister for Economic Affairs Ahad Khan
Cheema and senior government officials, the PM Office Media Wing said in a press release. During the briefing, officials informed the meeting that seven digital portals under the ‘Rabta’ initiative were now operational, enabling digitisation across the system. As many as 56 trains had been shifted onto the platform, and 54 railway stations had been digitised. “Free wi-fi service had been pro-
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vided at Karachi, Lahore, Rawalpindi, and Faisalabad stations, while an additional 48 stations would receive the facility by December 31 this year. An online freight booking system had also been launched, while a pilot project for a digital weighing bridge had begun at Karachi City Railway Station, with expansion planned for Pipri, Karachi Cantonment, Port Qasim, Lahore and Rawalpindi stations.”
At the Rawalpindi station, 148 AIpowered surveillance cameras had been installed, and ATM machines of various banks were being placed at major stations. Cleanliness services had been outsourced, and improved waiting areas had been established for passengers. Information desks had also been set up across stations for public facilitation. To improve the quality of food and beverages at stations, food authorities from all four provinces had been granted oversight access. The forum was told that four trains had already been outsourced, while tenders for outsourcing eleven more trains had been floated — a move expected to generate an additional Rs8.5 billion. Furthermore, 40 luggage and brake vans had been outsourced, projected to earn Rs820 million in extra revenue. Outsourcing of two cargo express trains was also underway and anticipated to add Rs6.3 billion in revenue. Work was also progressing on outsourcing railway hospitals in Lahore, Karachi, Multan, Peshawar, Quetta and Sukkur. Railway schools, colleges, rest houses and dry ports in Lahore, Islamabad and Azakhail were also in the outsourcing pipeline.
Pakistan, EU vow closer trade, investment and maritime cooperation as Dar wraps up visit ISLAMABAD/BRUSSELS staff report
Pakistan and the European Union (EU) on Saturday reaffirmed the importance of deepening trade and investment ties, including through the EU’s GSP+ scheme, describing it as a key driver of sustainable growth, export diversification, job creation, and mutually beneficial economic opportunities, according to a Foreign Office (FO) statement. The announcement came as the 7th Strategic Dialogue between Pakistan and the EU was held in Brussels, cochaired by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar and EU chief diplomat Kaja Kallas. Pakistan enjoys, under the GSP+ status, duty-free or minimal-duty access for its exports to Europe, incentivizing sustainable development and good governance. The FO statement said the dialogue provided a comprehensive review of the full spectrum of Pakistan-EU relations, building on recent high-level engagements and institutional interactions. Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to a broad-based, multidimensional, and forward-looking partnership anchored in shared values, the UN Charter, multilateralism, and principles of mutual respect and cooperation. “The dialogue also offered an opportunity to exchange views on regional and global developments, including South Asia, Afghanistan, the Middle East, and broader geopolitical trends,” the FO said, adding that both parties emphasized coordinated approaches to peace, stability, sustainable development, and global challenges such as climate change and connectivity.