Pakistan Railways Saves Nearly Rs. 1 Billion in Electricity Costs Through Solarization in 8 Months

Pakistan Railways has reached a significant milestone by saving more than Rs. 1 billion in electricity expenses over the past eight months. The achievement is credited to two major initiatives: transitioning to solar energy and enforcing a strict crackdown on electricity theft across the network.

Minister Highlights Milestone Achievement

The development was shared during a high-level meeting chaired by Federal Minister for Railways, Muhammad Hanif Abbasi. The minister noted that the reforms introduced by the department have begun delivering measurable results.

“These savings are not just numbers—they directly strengthen the financial health of Pakistan Railways, which has long faced resource challenges,” Abbasi said.

Division-Wise Savings

Among various divisions, the Lahore Division emerged as the top contributor, achieving savings of Rs. 416.6 million.

Mughalpura followed with Rs. 243 million saved.
Other divisions, including Rawalpindi, Quetta, Karachi, Sukkur, Multan, and Peshawar, also contributed by significantly cutting down power usage and curbing electricity theft.

This collective effort reflects a coordinated strategy to reduce costs nationwide.

Zero-Tolerance Policy on Theft

The minister commended the efforts of railway teams for taking the reforms seriously and implementing them on the ground. He reiterated that electricity theft will not be tolerated under any circumstances.

A zero-tolerance policy has been adopted, and strict legal action will be taken against anyone involved in such practices.

A Step Towards Sustainable Reform

Officials have called this achievement a landmark reform in Pakistan’s railway sector, showing that with the right planning, monitoring, and accountability, even longstanding state-owned entities can improve financial performance.

The adoption of solar energy solutions not only helps reduce reliance on the national grid but also provides long-term cost efficiency, while the anti-theft drive ensures better governance and transparency.

This combination of sustainability and accountability is expected to play a critical role in easing the financial burden of Pakistan Railways and setting an example for other public sector departments.