Railways Plans Digitization by 2030 in Budget

Islamabad, May 29 — Federal Minister for Railways Muhammad Hanif Abbasi declared Thursday that the government will prioritize complete digitization of the railway system under a 2025–2030 framework to revolutionize service delivery. During a pre-budget meeting, he vowed that the upcoming federal budget will inject financial resources into modernizing railway infrastructure, leveraging Government-to-Government (G2G) and Public-Private Partnership (PPP) models to boost private sector involvement.

Special funds will target expansion of the e-ticketing system and enhancements to the “Rabta” mobile app, alongside investments in branding railway stations, foot overbridges, and bridges. The meeting approved capacity building and training programs to skill railway personnel for digital operations, ensuring digital inclusion and equal access. Monitoring and evaluation mechanisms will track progress and timely execution of projects. Abbasi stressed, “This digitization framework will define the railway system’s future,” urging prompt budget approval.

Web context highlights Pakistan Railways’ inefficiencies (e.g., 30% delays, web ID: 0), while posts found on X show mixed views—some hail modernization, others doubt implementation. Critically, the narrative of “transformation” may mask funding risks—web sources note budget constraints, and X sentiment suggests skepticism about PPP success, hinting at potential delays.