Railways raises Badami Bagh lease revenue

LAHORE: The Pakistan Railways has substantially increased its annual revenue from commercial assets through the transparent auction of 125 godowns at Badami Bagh, Lahore.

According to the railway authorities, the auction has raised the annual lease revenue from Rs72.2 million to Rs331.08 million, representing an increase of 358.6 per cent. In addition to the recurring lease income, the Pakistan Railways will receive Rs277.72 million as an upfront one-year security deposit.

The total first-year realization from the auction, including the annual lease payment and security deposit, will reach Rs608.80 million. The authorities said the overall cash flow generated through the auction represented an increase of 743.5 per cent compared with the previous year. Federal Minister for Railways Muhammad Hanif Abbasi said transparency and national interest remained key priorities of the government.

He said transparent utilization of railway assets would contribute directly to the national exchequer and congratulated the railway administration for conducting the auction process professionally.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2026