Pakistan Railways has announced a new outsourcing drive in which 11 additional passenger trains will be handed over to private operators, a move projected to generate an extra Rs 8.5 billion in revenue.
During a high-level meeting chaired by Shehbaz Sharif, officials reported that tenders for all 11 trains have already been issued. Pakistan Railways has previously outsourced four trains and is now expanding the public-private partnership model.
The outsourcing initiative is part of broader reform efforts by the rail agency. These include handing over railway hospitals, schools, rest houses and dry ports to private entities. The plan also envisages revenue from 40 luggage and brake vans (estimated at Rs 820 million) and two “cargo express” trains expected to yield about Rs 6.3 billion.
Prime Minister Shehbaz emphasised that the rail network is “the backbone of the country’s economy” and urged the adoption of private-sector legal and economic expertise—especially for land, connectivity and cross-border rail projects.