Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has instructed Pakistan Railways to speed up its modernization program, emphasizing the need for international-level expertise to improve regional connectivity. During a high-level meeting, officials briefed him that the department is expanding its digital infrastructure under the Rabta initiative. Seven digital portals are operational, 56 trains have transitioned to the system, and 54 stations have been fully digitized. Free Wi-Fi is already available at major stations including Karachi, Lahore, Rawalpindi, and Faisalabad, while 48 additional stations will receive the service by December. Pakistan Railways is also launching an online freight booking system and testing a digital weighing bridge in Karachi. Security upgrades include installing 148 AI-based cameras at Rawalpindi Station, along with improved waiting areas, ATM machines, and outsourced cleaning services.
