ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Railways is poised to emerge as a cornerstone of regional connectivity and economic integration, a vision reinforced during a meeting between US Chargé d’Affaires Natalie Baker and Minister for Railways Hanif Abbasi in Islamabad on Monday.
The US envoy received a comprehensive briefing on Pakistan Railways’ strategic projects and the crucial role the institution is playing in linking Pakistan with regional and international markets.
Minister Hanif Abbasi underlined that the modernization and transformation of the rail network, combined with reforms, would create fresh opportunities for trade, expand investment flows, and generate wide-ranging employment. He said this would position Pakistan as a vital hub for regional integration.
He elaborated on the scope of the ongoing development initiatives. These include the launch of an advanced digitization process, formal agreements with waste management companies, and effective cleanliness drives across railway stations.
The Minister also highlighted the establishment of executive lounges, modern waiting areas, escalators, and upgraded monitoring systems designed to raise service standards.
In addition, he emphasized that free Wi-Fi services have already been made available at 40 major railway stations across the country, reflecting the government’s commitment to digital convenience and accessibility for passengers.
He stressed that these wide-ranging projects would not only attract fresh streams of investment and generate substantial employment opportunities but would also consolidate Pakistan’s role within vital transportation corridors of the region.
Abbasi asserted that enhanced partnership in the railway sector would contribute directly to strengthening Pak–US bilateral relations while enabling Pakistan to function as a gateway connecting South Asia with Central Asia, the Middle East, and beyond.
US Chargé d’Affaires Natalie Baker praised the strategic importance of Pakistan Railways, observing that the successful completion of its development projects would uplift Pakistan’s economy while simultaneously boosting regional connectivity.
She commended the reform-oriented initiatives already undertaken by Pakistan Railways and expressed strong interest in pursuing deeper cooperation and fresh avenues of investment to further strengthen bilateral engagement.
