Pakistan Railways has planned an investment of more than Rs 31 billion to upgrade and rehabilitate key railway tracks across the country, aiming to improve safety, reduce travel time and enhance overall service quality.
The investment covers six major development projects being carried out under the Public Sector Development Program (PSDP), according to official documents. The projects focus primarily on track safety and infrastructure strengthening on some of the busiest and most critical rail sections.
Among the planned works, track safety upgrades on the Rohri-Khanpur section in Sukkur Division are estimated to cost Rs 4.87 billion, while the Tando Adam-Rohri section will be rehabilitated at a cost of Rs 4.83 billion. In Karachi Division, essential track safety work on the Keamari-Hyderabad section is estimated at Rs 5.4 billion.
Similarly, Pakistan Railways plans to spend Rs 6.3 billion on safety upgrades on the Khanewal-Shahdara route via Shorkot, Faisalabad and Qila Sheikhupura, covering parts of Multan and Lahore divisions. The Sher Shah-Kundian section in Multan Division will see works worth Rs 4.9 billion, while the Rohri-Sibi section in Sukkur Division is planned at Rs 5.49 billion.
Officials say the projects are expected to make train travel safer and more reliable, while also cutting down delays caused by speed restrictions on worn-out tracks. Once completed, the upgrades are projected to save significant travel time on several routes, including over 100 minutes on the Sher Shah-Kundian section and nearly an hour on the Rohri-Sibi stretch.
Pakistan Railways has long faced challenges due to aging infrastructure, leading to slower journeys and safety concerns. These latest investments signal a renewed focus on fixing core issues rather than short-term measures.