ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Railways will complete the first phase of its largest-ever digitization program by June 2026, the country’s railways minister said this week, as the state-run operator moves to modernize operations, improve safety and reduce chronic delays across its aging rail network.
The initiative, known as the Railway Advanced Infrastructure Network (RAIN), is a nationwide digital overhaul designed to introduce real-time monitoring, centralized operational control and data-driven decision-making across Pakistan Railways, which has long struggled with safety lapses, service disruptions and financial losses.
The project comes as Pakistan faces sustained pressure to reform loss-making state-owned enterprises under an International Monetary Fund-backed stabilization program, with transport infrastructure seen as critical to improving economic efficiency and public services in a country of more than 240 million people.
Pakistan Railways, once the backbone of long-distance transport in the country, has seen its share of passenger and freight traffic decline over decades due to underinvestment, competition from road transport and repeated safety incidents. Officials say the RAIN project is intended to reverse that trend by modernizing core infrastructure and restoring public confidence in rail travel.
