Sindh govt considers purchase of six modern trains in coordination with Railways

The Sindh government is considering the purchase of six modern trains as part of a broader initiative to revive and upgrade the province’s rail network, Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah said on Wednesday.

The proposal was discussed during a meeting between the Sindh government and Federal Minister for Railways Hanif Abbasi, during which both sides agreed to strengthen cooperation to improve rail connectivity across the province. Abbasi said the Ministry of Railways would provide the Sindh government with complete technical and operational details regarding the proposed acquisition of the trains.

The meeting also agreed on a proposal to allocate Rs6 billion to make 100 unmanned railway crossings safer, aimed at reducing accidents and protecting human lives. The chief minister said the project’s objective was to connect remote areas of Sindh with modern, affordable and safe transport facilities, while also easing traffic pressure on roads.

Shah noted that the planned rail services would provide secure “city centre to city centre” connectivity for commuters, particularly employees, and contribute to more efficient urban mobility. He added that funding options would be explored for the restoration of Sindh’s 858-kilometre-long rail network.

Railways Minister Hanif Abbasi said the collaboration between the federal and Sindh governments would mark a new chapter in Pakistan Railways’ history. He said the centre would extend full technical assistance to the Sindh government and facilitate the provision of right of way for the project. Abbasi added that the proposed rail system would be environmentally friendly and support economic growth in the province.

The meeting decided to restore several key routes, including Kotri–Dadu, Dadu–Larkana and Hyderabad–Mirpurkhas, as well as Rohri–Jacobabad and Hyderabad–Badin, bringing the total to six priority sections. Sindh Information Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon said that after investment, travel time between Kotri and Dadu would be reduced by approximately one and a half hours.