Pakistan Railways planned to upgrade five major railway stations across the country to modern lines to ease passengers and help the sector generate more income.
“The aim of upgrading the station is to make it a commercial hub for business activities and facilitate passengers,” a railway ministry official told APP. He said stations would include Karachi, Lahore, Faisalabad, Peshawar and Quetta. He also said the decision was made on the instructions of Minister of Railways Khawaja Saad Rafiq.
Officials said the government is taking several steps to improve Pakistan Railways’ performance and will provide maximum facilities to the public.
In answer to a question, Balochistan’s railway infrastructure is being maintained according to available resources so that passengers can travel safely and securely. The railway, he added, will consist of the Sibbi-Quetta-Chaman, Spezand-Taftan and Sibbi-Hulnay lines and will be part of the Jacobabad-Sibbi section.
The officials said that passenger comfort has been improved through washrooms, the provision of drinking water and renovations to the waiting areas of various station buildings.
As for the Sama Satta-Amruka section, he said in March 2021 a contract was awarded to the Frontier Works Organization (FWO) signed for Rs 7.735 billion for the restoration of the line.