Gujar khan  -  The federal government is fully committed to undertaking substantial reforms in Pakistan Railways with a view to modernizing the railway infrastructure and aligning it with international standards, said Minister of State for Railways Bilal Azhar Kiyani on Sunday. The minister made these remarks while inaugurating new passenger train stops in the towns of Sohawa and Jhelum.

Speaking to media persons, the minister highlighted the government’s strong focus on upgrading the Main Line-1 (ML-1) railway corridor, calling it the backbone of Pakistan Railways and the top infrastructure priority of the current administration. He stated that concrete steps were being taken to turn the long-standing ML-1 project into reality.

According to Mr. Kiyani, a high-level delegation from the World Bank had met him a day earlier to discuss potential avenues for collaboration on railway reforms. The delegation was led by Jen Jungeun Oh, the World Bank’s Transport Practice Manager for South Asia. During the meeting, the federal government briefed the visiting officials on its comprehensive plans to upgrade railway infrastructure, improve governance, and introduce modern systems within the Pakistan Railways.

Mr. Kiyani informed the World Bank team about the government’s intent to prioritize the Karachi-to-Rohri section of the ML-1 route as an initial phase of development. He added that the government was actively seeking both technical and financial support from the World Bank and other international partners to expedite the project. The World Bank delegation, he said, had shared a number of policy suggestions and technical recommendations aimed at improving the efficiency and sustainability of railway operations in Pakistan, all of which were under serious review by the ministry.

On the issue of regional security, Mr. Kiyani addressed the recent escalation in tensions between Pakistan and India. He stated that Pakistan’s armed forces had given a strong and appropriate response to Indian provocations and rejected the narrative being pushed by New Delhi. “Pakistan desires peace in the region, but it will never accept the so-called ‘new normal’ of Indian aggression,” he said, stressing that the unity of the Pakistani people had thwarted the enemy’s attempts to exploit internal differences.

The minister praised the armed forces for their professionalism and valor, declaring that every soldier stood as a “Bunyanum Marsoos” — a term meaning an unbreakable iron wall. He reiterated that Pakistan was open to direct negotiations with India on all major issues, including the longstanding Kashmir dispute, with the objective of achieving lasting peace in South Asia.

During his visit to Sohawa, the minister officially resumed passenger train operations at the local railway station after a gap of more than 17 years. The Awam Express, which travels between Peshawar and Karachi, will now make scheduled stops at Sohawa in both directions. Mr. Kiyani noted that the station, which had remained non-functional for nearly two decades, would soon be upgraded and equipped with modern passenger facilities. He stressed that this initiative would serve not only to benefit the residents of the tehsil but also to increase revenue and trust in the railway system.

Later in the day, Mr. Kiyani visited Jhelum, where he inaugurated a new passenger stop for the Rehman Baba Express. He announced that the inclusion of this stop was aimed at increasing accessibility and convenience for passengers in the region.

The minister also issued directives to the Divisional Superintendent of Railways in Rawalpindi, Mr. Noor Uddin Dawar, instructing him to ensure that all necessary facilities are made available at the Sohawa and Jhelum stations. Mr. Kiyani emphasized that enhancing service quality and restoring public confidence in Pakistan Railways were among the ministry’s primary goals.

Meanwhile, local residents of Gujar Khan have called upon the federal government to consider increasing the number of stops for Lahore- and Rawalpindi-bound trains at the Gujar Khan Railway Station.