Pakistan Railways plans to overhaul two major train services to contemporary levels in order to enhance passenger offerings and update its network, Federal Minister for Railways Hanif Abbasi stated in the National Assembly on Friday.
While speaking during Question Hour in response to inquiries from Aliya Kamran and other parliamentarians, the minister announced that the Peshawar-originating Awam Express will undergo improvements starting November 2, with the Khyber Mail receiving similar updates by the conclusion of January.
Abbasi noted that the railway administration has successfully digitized ticket reservations, enabling travelers to buy passes via the Rabta mobile application rather than traveling to ticket counters. He mentioned the deployment of 329 point-of-sale machines across 236 reservation facilities, which accept payments via multiple banks, Easypaisa, JazzCash, and QR codes.
Addressing a follow-up inquiry from Noor Alam Khan, Abbasi pointed out that passenger volume on the Quetta train route has climbed to 190% of total seating capacity, demonstrating high public demand.
The minister stated that the Hazara Express is also receiving upgrades alongside the Awam Express and Khyber Mail. Furthermore, he emphasized that Pakistan Railways operates nationwide and maintains a policy of non-discrimination among provinces regarding development initiatives.
