Lahore: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has launched the Pak-Business Express train to provide better travel facilities to passengers. He also inaugurated other facilities for the passengers at the Lahore Railway Station today, including the installation of escalators and the renovation of the family lounge, general waiting halls, and CIP lounge, along with access to internet through WiFi.
According to Radio Pakistan, during the inaugural ceremony, the Prime Minister commended Railways Minister Hanif Abbasi and the management of the Railways for providing world-class facilities to the passengers. He emphasized that this initiative is the first step towards a long journey and stressed the need to expand such facilities to other stations across Pakistan. Shehbaz Sharif urged the Minister for Railways to make the train service the best mode of travel for the common passenger, improve the freight system, and bring Pakistan Railways on par with the best railway systems in the world.
Discussing the recent four-day war with India, he mentioned it was a challenging battle, but Pakistan emerged victorious in a limited time period, earning global recognition for this achievement. The Prime Minister praised the Armed Forces of Pakistan for demonstrating extraordinary courage and effectively leveraging their technological superiority, particularly highlighting the role of the Pakistan Air Force. He noted the decisive use of the Al-Fatah missile by the Army and the Navy's preparedness during the conflict. Shehbaz Sharif remarked that India had underestimated Pakistan's ability to engage in conventional warfare, a belief that was proven wrong in this conflict.
On the economic front, he stated that Pakistan has achieved macroeconomic stability through teamwork, with both inflation and the policy rate on the decline. Commenting on Pakistan's foreign relations, the Prime Minister mentioned that Islamabad is actively coordinating with Beijing on the second phase of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, and the ties with the United States are being further strengthened. He acknowledged US President Donald Trump's role in brokering a ceasefire between Pakistan and India, considering it a major diplomatic victory for Pakistan.
Earlier in the event, Minister for Railways Hanif Abbasi informed that his ministry is committed to providing the best travel experience to passengers. He announced the installation of ATM and POS machines at 348 stations initially, to offer a cashless ticket purchasing experience. He also mentioned that the inquiry services of Pakistan Railways will become fully functional by next week and that escalators will be installed at the Karachi Railway Station.