LAHORE, June 27 (TNF): Federal Minister for Railways Muhammad Hanif Abbasi on Thursday announced that Pakistan Railways is set to be completely digitalized in line with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s Digital Pakistan vision.
Speaking at the signing ceremony of a Memorandum of Understanding between Pakistan Railways and Allied Bank Limited (ABL), Abbasi said the initiative would enhance transparency, accountability, and efficiency across railway operations.
Under the agreement, modern Point of Sale systems will be installed at 348 railway stations to enable passengers to purchase tickets and pay for services using credit or debit cards, significantly reducing dependence on cash. Abbasi noted that the shift to digital payments would eliminate long queues, minimize manual work, and accelerate business transactions.
The project, to be completed within 60 days, will enable real-time monitoring of railway revenue and substantially lower risks of financial fraud, theft, and accounting errors. He further highlighted that food stalls, kiosks, and small vendors at stations would also be able to accept digital payments, bringing them into the formal financial sector and promoting financial inclusion.
The agreement was signed by Director IT Ali Raza for Pakistan Railways and Unit Head Digital Banking Farrukh Zeb Khan for ABL. Senior officials including Chairman Syed Mazhar Ali Shah, CEO Aamir Baloch, and DS Rawalpindi Nooruddin attended, with other divisional heads joining via video link.
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