Pakistan Railways is experiencing a surge in locomotive breakdowns, primarily due to an aging fleet, with over 63% of engines exceeding two decades in service. The disclosure was made by railway officials to the National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Railways, as reported by the local media outlet Dawn. Despite the challenges faced by the rolling stock, efforts such as enhanced maintenance, modernization initiatives, and increased funding are underway to stabilize operations and enhance passenger services.
The Railway Ministry officials also outlined plans to revamp and modernize diesel-electric locomotives during the committee meeting. Concerning service quality, the committee addressed issues with non-functional air-conditioning units in passenger coaches, attributing the failures to aging AC units. However, steps are being taken to replace the faulty units.
The committee meeting also delved into the availability of passenger coaches within Pakistan Railways. It was noted that the shortage of coaches, prevalent since June 2025, has significantly improved due to enhanced workshop efficiency and the restoration of coaches under repair. The number of available coaches has risen from 1,016 in September 2025 to 1,105, surpassing the required 1,100, with an anticipated need of 1,150 by June 2026.
Pakistan Railways achieved a milestone in passenger earnings, recording Rs 48.832 billion during the fiscal year 2024-25. Furthermore, earnings in the initial six months of the current fiscal year exhibited a 7% increase compared to the corresponding period in the previous year. The Secretary of Pakistan Railways elaborated on restructuring and outsourcing initiatives aimed at boosting efficiency and elevating passenger services during the committee session.
Following the detailed briefing, the committee established a sub-committee to delve deeper into the challenges contributing to the railways’ subpar performance.
