Pakistan Railways saves billions through solarization and anti-theft drive, says Abbasi

Pakistan Railways has saved billions of rupees in electricity costs over the past eight months through meterization, solarization, and strict action against power theft, officials revealed during a high-level meeting chaired by Federal Minister for Railways Muhammad Hanif Abbasi Wednesday.

Briefing the minister, officials said that effective measures to curb electricity theft and cut wasteful consumption had resulted in major savings across railway divisions. A record Rs416.6 million was saved in the Lahore Railway Division alone, while Lahore’s Mughalpura Workshop achieved savings of Rs243 million.

Savings were also recorded in other divisions, including Rs75 million in Rawalpindi, Rs38 million in Quetta, Rs26 million in Karachi, Rs60 million in Sukkur, Rs9.6 million in Multan, and Rs6.46 million in Peshawar.

Abbasi lauded the achievement, stressing that transparency and reform measures would continue. “Pakistan Railways has made great strides in preventing electricity theft. Whoever steals will go straight to jail — there will be zero tolerance,” he declared.

The minister noted that innovative steps such as solarization have led to a significant reduction in railway expenses, with further reforms planned to ensure sustainable savings and efficiency.