Muhammad Faisal Kaleem

In an effort to improve the living facilities for its staff, the Pakistan Railways (PR) has built 176 new residential units across the country, costing Rs118.382 million, according to documents available with Wealth Pakistan. Over the last three years, the department administration has renovated 608 residential units in 13 divisions across the country, while surveys are regularly conducted and special repairs are undertaken within available resources.

Eviction notices issued when structures are declared unsafe and condemned, and affected families are relocated to suitable quarters. Out of 608 residential units, 65 units are located in Karachi Division, 11 in Sukkur, 10 in Quetta, 24 in Multan, 17 in Lahore, 77 workshops in Mughalpura, 30 in DGM/HQ, 130 at the Pakistan Railways Academy Walton, Lahore, 82 in Rawalpindi Division, 150 in Peshawar Division, 10 at the Pakistan Railways Carriage Factory, Islamabad, while two quarters have been repaired at the Risalpur Locomotive Factory.

In an interview with Wealth Pakistan, Kamran Waseem, Director General Planning at the Ministry of Railways, said the Pakistan Railways has created a safer and more sustainable living environment for its workforce. He said timely repairs and structural assessments have helped prevent potential hazards. The department is also working to ensure transparency and fairness in the allotment process, particularly for those displaced from the condemned units.

“These efforts reflect the PR’s broader commitment to institutional reforms, improved service delivery, and long-term stability,” he said. Waseem said the improvement in employees’ living conditions has enhanced efficiency, reduced operational stress, and improved service delivery. He said the department has also begun implementing stricter monitoring mechanisms to identify structural issues at an early stage to reduce future repair costs.

Credit: INP-WealthPk