Senate body reviews plan to modernise 200-year-old rail network in Sindh

In a significant step towards modernising Pakistan's ancient railway system, lawmakers on the Senate Standing Committee on Railways convened on Monday to examine comprehensive plans for upgrading the country's aging infrastructure. The agenda centred on refurbishing the roughly 200-year-old railway tracks, alongside an ambitious PPP-mode project for the 1,254-kilometer Main Line 2 (ML-2) expansion.

This ambitious upgrade aims to revolutionise rail travel across Sindh via the Kotri–Dadu, Dadu–Larkana, and Hyderabad–Mirpurkhas routes.

The committee urged the Ministry of Railways to swiftly finalize a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Sindh government. They also directed the Minister for Railways to personally inspect the historic Dadu Railway Station, constructed in 1890 and characterized by its impressive one-kilometer platform, to prevent further decay. Moreover, urgent instructions were issued to prioritise the repair of railway bridges severely damaged by recent heavy rain and flooding.

The high-level meeting, chaired by Senator Shahadat Awan at Parliament House in Islamabad, scrutinised operational, financial, and administrative aspects of Pakistan Railways. The committee assessed the status of previous recommendations made in meetings held on February 25, 2026, and May 11, 2026. A major focus of the discussion centred on commercial assets and land management, particularly the 53 petrol pumps situated on railway property.

The committee confirmed compliance with Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA) rules, and officials revealed a revised rental rate of 10 per cent, up from the previous eight per cent, following a policy update in 2023. The committee stressed the importance of adhering strictly to the law and mandated a re-evaluation of commercial rents.

The committee also addressed longstanding accountability issues tied to pending inquiries with the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) and the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) since 2021. They expressed concern over delays and instructed the ministry and railway officials to initiate internal investigations, hold accountable those implicated, and keep the committee informed.

They reported that theft of high-speed diesel (HSD) has been reduced to zero as fuel is now directly injected into train engines. Concerning administrative compliance and reporting accuracy, the committee was displeased with incomplete or misleading feedback provided between July 21, 2025, and July 26, 2026. Embezzlement and inaccurate reporting were highlighted, prompting a mandate for a 15-day investigation from the officers responsible.

In terms of encroachments on railway lands, the committee commended the retrieval of 376 acres from illegal encroachments out of a targeted 13,000+ acres. They directed the chairman and the ministry to expedite anti-encroachment drives and submit a comprehensive feedback report within two months. Regarding public compensation, the committee expressed displeasure over delayed compliance under Case No. 1/2018 and directed authorities to formulate legally sound solutions aligned with court orders, ensuring fair and prompt compensation for all affected parties.

Finally, Agenda Items II and III were settled after the ministry's satisfactory initial responses and commitments. The minister for railways assured the committee that future operations would be governed by strict transparency, affirming that neither the department nor any individual would be permitted to lease railway land arbitrarily, and that every transaction would strictly adhere to the law.

The meeting was attended by Senators Dost Ali Jeesa, Bushra Anjum Butt, the minister for railways, and senior officials from concerned departments.