Pakistan Railways is undertaking an operational modernization program that includes fleet upgrades across high-traffic passenger routes and the rollout of digital ticketing infrastructure throughout the country. Federal Minister for Railways Hanif Abbasi detailed the initiatives during Question Hour in the National Assembly on Friday, outlining the deployment timeline for upgraded rolling stock and electronic payment systems.
Fleet Modernization Schedule
Under the modernization schedule shared with lawmakers, the Awam Express, which originates from Peshawar, is scheduled to receive its upgrade starting November 2. The Khyber Mail service is scheduled to undergo its upgrade process by the end of January. Abbasi confirmed that the Hazara Express is also being upgraded in parallel with the Awam Express and Khyber Mail services to bring passenger coaches up to modern operating standards.
Addressing the geographic distribution of railway investments, Abbasi stated that Pakistan Railways caters to transportation requirements across the entire country. In his remarks, the minister maintained that the department will not discriminate among provinces as modernization and service improvements are executed across regional lines.
Digital Ticketing and Payment Infrastructure
Beyond rolling stock, Pakistan Railways has implemented digital transit systems intended to streamline fare collection and reduce reliance on in-person counters. Abbasi informed members of the assembly, including Aliya Kamran, that the agency digitized its ticket booking system to enable passengers to acquire reservations remotely.
Commuters can now reserve and buy tickets through the Rabta mobile application, eliminating the requirement to travel to physical reservation windows. To support on-site electronic transactions, Pakistan Railways deployed 329 point-of-sale terminals across 236 physical booking centers. These payment terminals allow passengers to complete transactions using major commercial banks, mobile wallet platforms including Easypaisa and JazzCash, as well as digital QR code scanning.
Surging Passenger Demand
The modernization push comes as passenger volume remains high across critical regional rail links. Responding to a supplementary inquiry raised by lawmaker Noor Alam Khan, Abbasi reported that passenger occupancy on the rail service operating in Quetta reached 190 percent of its designated seating capacity. The minister cited this operational load as evidence of intense sustained demand for railway services across the national transit network.
