ISLAMABAD:
Pakistan Railways is pursuing a major technological transformation as part of an ambitious digitalization program including a 1,700-kilometer fiber optic network and intelligent rail systems aimed at modernizing operations, freight management and passenger services across the country.
According to official project documents available with Wealth Pakistan, the initiative is part of Pakistan Railways’ Railway Advance Infrastructure Network (RAIN), described as the first major revenue-driven digitalization project in the department’s history, a press release said.
The program aims to create a comprehensive digital ecosystem for railway operations and introduce advanced technologies in several operational areas. Under this project, Pakistan Railways plans to establish a 1,700 km optical fiber backbone for digital operations.
Of the 1,700 km, approximately 700 km will include railway-owned fiber optic infrastructure, while another 1,000 km will be developed in collaboration with Frontier Works Organization (FWO) under a strategic partnership agreement. The project also includes bandwidth transmission through public-private partnership mechanisms.
The digital transformation program will also introduce Pakistan Railways’ first comprehensive digital manifest system spanning its 78 years of operational history. Cargo operations are expected to be fully digitalized, improving tracking, documentation and operational efficiency.
Documents show that Pakistan Railways plans to introduce GPS tracking systems for locomotives and rolling stock to strengthen operational monitoring and management.
