ISLAMABAD : Pakistan Railways has successfully completed the solarization of 37 railway stations, a move aimed at reducing dependence on conventional energy and cutting electricity expenses by Rs163.52 million.
Of the solar-powered stations, 28 are located in Punjab and nine in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP).
In Punjab, the solarized stations include Hassanabdal, Nur, Taxila, Chaklala, Domeli, Basrala, Raiwind, Lahore Cantt, Walton, Kala Shah Kaku, Kot Radha Kishan, Okara City, Okara Cantt, Changa Manga, Chak Jhumra, Sangla Hill, Dural Ehsan, Kot Lakhpat, Gujranwala, Gujrat, Rukarpur, Jhaman, Shorkot, Rajpoot Nagar, Sher Shah, Galewala and Jan Muhammad Wala.
In KP, the stations shifted to solar power are Kundian, Peshawar City, Nowshera, Attock City, Jand, Basal, Pabbi, Daud Khel and Jahangir Road.
The government had earlier launched a project to solarize 155 stations nationwide at an estimated cost of Rs450 million. According to official documents, work on an additional 42 stations is expected to be completed by December this year.
In Punjab, solarization of 23 stations in Multan region and nine in Rawalpindi is in progress, with an estimated cost of Rs 43.83 million and Rs26.809 million, respectively. The solarization of stations in these two regions will help the Pakistan Railways save Rs40.4 million.
Likewise, solarization of 10 railway stations in Balochistan at an estimated cost of Rs13.396 million will save Rs 9.18 million annually in terms of electricity cost.
Financial evaluation of bids for solarization of 76 railway stations – 61 stations in Sindh and 15 in Balochistan – is in process. The estimated cost of solarizing these stations is Rs183.23 million and Rs15 million, respectively. The government will save Rs113.86 million annually in terms of electricity bills.
A senior official of Pakistan Railways told Wealth Pakistan that the government has especially focused on the infrastructure and other related developments in the last three years, testifying to its seriousness about modernizing the railways department and reducing its expenses.
He explained that it was an example of the government’s seriousness about the matter that the Asian Development Bank (ADB) had recently agreed to fund the upgradation of a 500-km railway line from Karachi to Rohri.
The official said the Punjab government’s willingness for the upgradation and dualization of railway tracks in the province is another positive step, which will strengthen the railways department.
The official said the Main Line-1 (ML-1) project is also another major focus of the government. The track — a primary rail corridor from Karachi to Peshawar — will enhance transport efficiency, reduce travel time, and facilitate freight and passenger movement, particularly as part of Pakistan’s strategy with Central Asia.
