ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) agreed on Friday to accelerate documentation and procedural requirements for the Karachi–Rohri section of the Main Line-1 (ML-1) railway project, as the government pushes to begin work on the long-delayed infrastructure scheme this year.
Federal Minister for Economic Affairs Ahad Cheema chaired a high-level meeting reviewing implementation arrangements for the project, with senior officials from the Economic Affairs Division, Ministry of Railways, and the ADB in attendance.
Cheema directed the Ministry of Railways to expedite documentation in coordination with the ADB and the Economic Affairs Division, stressing Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s commitment to holding the project’s groundbreaking ceremony within the current year.
“The Karachi–Rohri section is a starter and will be implemented come what may,” the statement quoted Cheema as saying.
It added that the government was coordinating with other development partners for the remaining sections of the ML-1 corridor and aimed to finalize agreements for the full Karachi-to-Peshawar railway upgrade.
Cheema, according to statement, said the government was also engaging other development partners for the remaining sections of the ML-1 corridor and aimed to finalize agreements for the full Karachi-to-Peshawar railway upgrade.
The minister said Pakistan was seeking to secure ADB financing in the upcoming fiscal year and emphasized that timely completion of documentation and procedural requirements would be critical to achieving that goal.
He also instructed the Ministry of Railways to work closely with the Planning Division to finalize the PC-1 and other mandatory approvals.
Cheema described ML-1 as a “landmark initiative” that would improve freight movement and strengthen railway services nationwide.
ADB Country Director Emma Fan reaffirmed the lender’s support for the project and praised efforts by Pakistani authorities to advance preparations.
“ADB would ensure the timely hiring of the PRF consultant,” Fan said, adding that the bank would “make every effort to minimize the project review timeline” to support swift implementation of the strategically important scheme.
The ML-1 project, stretching from Karachi to Peshawar, is Pakistan’s largest railway modernization initiative and is aimed at upgrading tracks, improving freight capacity, and reducing travel times across the country.
