Lahore – Minister for Railways Muhammad Hanif Abbasi said that Pakistan has earned unprecedented global respect, crediting Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal General Syed Asim Munir for the country’s elevated international standing.
Speaking at the “Meet the Press” event at the Lahore Press Club on Sunday, Abbasi stated, “Pakistan today is a changed Pakistan. We now walk in the world with our heads held high.” Highlighting Pakistan’s foreign policy successes, he said countries like Türkiye and Russia view overseas Pakistanis with respect, and nations such as China, Türkiye, Azerbaijan, Malaysia, and Bangladesh have stood by Pakistan in difficult times.
He took a jab at India, accusing it of waging a “proxy war” in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and claimed that the U.S. confirmed five Indian aircraft were shot down in the May conflict. “India is licking its wounds,” Abbasi remarked, sarcastically thanking India for “uniting the entire Pakistani nation.”
The minister also addressed domestic critics, accusing some of ingratitude despite benefiting from Pakistan’s resources. “Those who went from riding bicycles to owning BMWs are now badmouthing the country,” he said, criticizing jailed individuals for “screaming and hurling abuses,” unlike his own conduct in prison.
On the economy, Abbasi claimed inflation had dropped from 38 percent to zero due to effective government policies, though he acknowledged that tough decisions were required to stabilize the economy. He vowed to crack down on “big crocodiles” looting the country and announced the closure of ten Independent Power Producers (IPPs), with fifteen more to follow.
Turning to Pakistan Railways, Abbasi outlined sweeping reforms aimed at modernization. He highlighted improvements such as: Outsourcing cleaning services at seven major stations in Rawalpindi, Karachi, and Lahore; Enhancing food quality; Installing free Wi-Fi at Lahore Railway Station; Adding escalators and information desks at key stations.
He announced that a 105-kilometer railway track for coal transport would be completed by April 30, reducing electricity costs from Rs15 to Rs4.5 per unit. A new Business Train, featuring Wi-Fi-equipped coaches and high-quality dining, will be inaugurated on July 29 by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
Abbasi emphasized infrastructure upgrades, including a soon-to-be-finalized agreement for the Rohri-Karachi railway section and a Rs50 billion allocation from Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz to improve the Lahore-Rawalpindi track, cutting travel time to just two hours.
He also announced plans to: Digitize the railway system; Link sixteen banks to the Pakistan Railways app; Install ATMs at 348 stations; Shut down three non-performing railway companies.
“Pakistan Railways is the pride of the nation,” Abbasi declared, adding that he would make it profitable if the federal government assumed responsibility for pensions and salaries. He stressed that the root cause of the railway’s issues was not the labor force but certain unnamed individuals who had looted the system.
Reflecting on his personal journey, Abbasi shared that he was born in Lahore, studied at FC College, and began his political career as a student leader. He praised the Lahore Press Club as the largest in Pakistan and reaffirmed his positive relationship with journalists.
He emphasized the need for investment in Pakistan Railways to boost the national economy, warning that “major reforms are imminent” and bureaucratic inefficiencies would not be tolerated.
Abbasi affirmed that despite ongoing challenges, Pakistan Railways remains operational and resilient. He cited the continued running of the Jafar Express and Bolan Express as a “bold message to adversaries.” “We are not afraid,” he declared.
Abbasi also announced initiatives to promote football, cricket, and hockey under a new sports development plan.
“Sports are among our priorities, and we will devise a comprehensive strategy to support them,” he said.
Addressing employment concerns, he noted a compassionate approach to contract workers:
“Instead of terminating contract staff with a one-month payout, we’re considering reassigning Railway sanitation workers to their local areas,” he shared.
He said the “Suthra Punjab” (Clean Punjab) initiative will also be extended to Railway colonies to improve living conditions.
“The level of cleanliness we’ve now achieved in Railways has never been seen before,” he claimed.
Cracking down on illegal activity, Abbasi warned against ticketless travel, smuggling, and theft, asserting that offenders will face strict penalties, including imprisonment.
To strengthen security, Pakistan Railways has recruited 500 new personnel for the Railway Police and plans to purchase scanners and metal detectors using internal funds. He also noted that outsourcing is a globally accepted practice and may be expanded further as part of the modernization strategy.
