Karachi: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday assured that the federal government, in collaboration with the Sindh government, would revive the long-delayed Karachi Circular Railway (KCR) and make it part of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
The prime minister made the announcement while addressing the inauguration of the new Shalimar Express and the upgraded facilities, including waiting rooms and a CIP lounge, at Karachi Cantonment Railway Station. Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, Federal Minister for Railways Hanif Abbasi, and Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar were also present.
Responding to CM Shah’s request to include the KCR project in CPEC, PM Shehbaz assured full federal cooperation, calling the project “vital for the people of Karachi.” He said he had highlighted the KCR initiative at every international forum and expressed hope that the project would soon become a reality.
The prime minister also pledged to modernise all railway stations across Sindh and the country, emphasising that digitisation and state-of-the-art facilities would strengthen the national economy. “54 railway stations have already been upgraded, and Karachi Cantt is now equipped with modern facilities,” he said, adding that coordination with all provinces would continue to improve Pakistan Railways’ network.
PM Shehbaz further highlighted federal plans to extend the railway network to Central Asia, including the Uzbekistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan railway line, and stressed efforts to revive the Islamabad-Tehran-Istanbul rail route to boost regional trade.
He lauded Railways Minister Hanif Abbasi for overseeing significant improvements in just eight months, including the modernisation of Karachi Cantt Station and the renewal of the Shalimar Express. A $2 billion loan from the Asian Development Bank is also being discussed to upgrade the Karachi-Rohri line, which will eventually connect to the Reko Diq project.
CM Shah welcomed the federal commitment and reaffirmed Sindh’s full cooperation, emphasising that projects of KCR’s scale cannot be completed by the provincial government alone. He also highlighted that, until the Karachi-Hyderabad motorway is completed, train travel remains the most viable public transport option for thousands of daily commuters.
The ceremony was attended by foreign diplomats, parliamentarians, and senior officials from both federal and provincial governments. PM Shehbaz inaugurated the new Shalimar Express by cutting the ribbon and unveiled the plaque at Karachi Cantt Station, while touring the upgraded waiting area, CIP lounge, dining hall, and computerised ticketing system.
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