By Muhammad Faisal Kaleem
ISLAMABAD, Oct 18 (Wealth Pakistan): Over 3,000 acres of Pakistan Railways land in Sindh are being reclaimed for agricultural use after being retrieved from encroachers, according to a senior PR official who briefed the National Assembly Standing Committee on Railways.
The Divisional Superintendent of PR’s Sukkur Division said that 3,253 acres of Pakistan Railways land in Sindh remain under illegal occupation, while another 457 acres have been grabbed by land mafia.
“The department is actively pursuing recovery operations and expects the issue to be resolved soon,” he said.
He told the committee that Pakistan Railways currently manages 16,458 acres in the Sukkur region, a significant portion of which has already been reclaimed.
For more information, visit the Ministry of Railways official site.
Anti-encroachment drive targets Pakistan Railways land in Sindh
The official said he had personally visited Khanpur, Rohri Yard, Rahim Yar Khan, Sukkur, Pannu Aqil, Mehrabpur, and other areas to supervise anti-encroachment operations.
In response to lawmakers’ queries, he explained that Pakistan Railways follows a defined set of rules for leasing its land to private parties and government organizations.
The committee directed the ministry to present a detailed report on land leases across the country at its next meeting.
Freight Corridor project aims to boost rail cargo
During the proceedings, the committee reviewed progress on Pakistan Railways’ upcoming Freight Corridor Project.
Secretary Railways Syed Mazhar Ali Shah briefed members that the project will start from Kamari in Sindh and connect Karachi Port to Pipri. Two new railway lines are planned to link the corridor with the M-9 Motorway, the dual carriageway connecting Karachi and Hyderabad.
The corridor will enable 17 freight trains to operate daily and aims to improve port logistics and reduce congestion. The first phase is expected to be completed within six months at an estimated cost of US$400 million.
Further details can be found on the CPEC portal, which tracks freight and logistics projects under national connectivity plans.
Committee reviews Jaffer Express blast incident
The committee also discussed the recent Jaffer Express attack, in which an improvised explosive device exploded near Sultan Kot Railway Station in Sindh.
Five bogies derailed, damaging the track and causing minor injuries to seven passengers, including Pakistan Railways employees. Rescue and police teams reached the site promptly, and the injured were shifted to Civil Hospital, Shikarpur.
District administrations and police from Sukkur, Larkana, and Shikarpur supported the relief operation.
The committee recommended increasing patrols in sensitive areas and installing at least three signal jammers in every train to enhance passenger safety.
For updates, visit the Pakistan Railways website.