Pakistan neglected, India invested in Railways: Ashfaq Khattak

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi 

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

“Pakistan’s railway system has suffered for decades because of low government investment and poor policy priorities, while India has continued to modernize its network, a former senior Pakistan Railways official said during a televised discussion.” 

This was brought to light by Muhammad Ashfaq Khattak, former General Manager (Operations) of Pakistan Railways in a recent interview. He did not mince words in confessing that the country’s railway infrastructure, locomotives and rolling stock had not received enough investment since the 1970s 

“Pakistan Railways currently earns about 150 billion Pakistani rupees (around $400 million) a year but continues to face a large financial deficit. It was no longer treated as a national priority,” he regretted. 

He felt confident that better investment and management could reduce losses and improve services. 

Ashfaq Khattak pointed out that Pakistan had inherited a much smaller railway network than India after the 1947 partition, adding that while both countries commenced their journeys with similar railway systems, India continued investing in new tracks, signalling, electrification and freight transport, while Pakistan focused more on road transport. 

He also observed that the proposed Main Line-1 (ML-1) modernization project under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) was the country’s first comprehensive railway upgrade plan but did not move forward as expected. Indian commentator 

Anil Nakra revealed that India has expanded investment in railways, including high-speed rail, hydrogen-powered trains and dedicated freight corridors due to the continued government funding which helped improve safety, efficiency and manufacturing capacity. 

He also referred to discussions held more than a decade ago about possible railway cooperation between India and Pakistan, including the supply of locomotives. He reckoned that the political tensions prevented the proposal from moving ahead. 

Ashfaq Khattak was of the opinion that Pakistan should consider purchasing railway equipment from any country, including India, if it is technically suitable and competitively priced. 

However, he added, that the procurement decisions should be based on overall costs, maintenance requirements and long-term value rather than transport distance alone. 

Both the panellists concurred that improved railway infrastructure could lower transport costs, support economic growth and strengthen regional trade if political conditions improve. 

Ashfaq Khattak, who is a Professor at the Centre of Excellence in Transportation/Railway Engineering at Pak Austria Fachhochschule-Institute of Applied Sciences and Technology, Haripur, further said that the structural reforms were needed in Pakistan Railway by reverting back to five-member Railway Board, comprising of professional railway officials belong to infrastructure, rolling stock, traffic and operations and finance. 

He firmly believed that one factor which contributed the most to the success of Indian Railways was its decision-making process by a five-member Railway Board, fully backed and supported by the governments in accordance with the Railway act. 

The enlightening discussion concluded with the observation that Pakistan’s railway system still possessed significant assets and experienced professionals, but sustained government investment and long-term planning would be needed to modernize the network and restore its competitiveness.