ISLAMABAD: Director General (DG) of Public Relations (PR) Pakistan Railways Dr. Hassan Tahir Bukhari, announced on Tuesday that his department had reached a record high in revenue earnings of Rs. 88 billion at the end of the financial year 2023-24 and provided modern amenities to passengers, including standardized toilet systems.
Talking to media, Dr. Bukhari mentioned that PR’s land-lease revenue is projected to increase by Rs 10 billion for FY 2024-25. He attributed this success to the vigorous efforts of the employees. He expressed the organization’s determination to further increase revenue to Rs 1 trillion in the next financial year and mentioned that with private partnerships, Pakistan Railways aims to meet its targets soon. He highlighted a 40% increase in revenue compared to previous years.
Dr. Bukhari explained the current facilities provided to passengers, noting that Pakistan Railways has launched ambitious projects to revolutionize railway infrastructure, including introducing modern, international-standard toilet systems. He emphasized the efforts to transform railway stations into dynamic hubs catering to diverse passenger needs, with enhanced facilities such as accessibility, waiting areas, toilets, Wi-Fi, and accurate train timings.
He also mentioned that with the start of the ML-3 project, connectivity with neighboring countries like China would increase, enhancing Pakistan’s journey towards becoming a global economic powerhouse. He highlighted the availability of online booking and e-ticketing, allowing passengers to purchase e-tickets via the official Pak Railways website or the smartphone application available on the Google Play Store.
Dr. Bukhari also noted the launch of a state-of-the-art dining car for passengers and the decision to improve cleanliness and passengers’ rest and sleeping services. He added that the Green Line project is a significant contribution to the Railway department.
To better manage crowds, arrival and departure areas will be separated and integrated with last-mile connectivity options like metro, bus, and taxis. He mentioned that Pakistan Railways has started upgrading major railway stations across the country to modern standards to better facilitate passengers.
