Work on $2.5bn ML-1 to begin in January
Officials from a mission of five multilateral international lenders survey the Karachi Railway Division, as it will be connected to ML-1.—Courtesy Railways • Phase-I covers 480km Karachi-Rohri railway section • Online market engagement with contractors, consultants set for Sept 8 • Project expected to take up to three years to complete LAHORE: Civil work on the $2.5 billion first phase of the…
Pakistan Railways (PR) plans to commence civil work on the $2.5 billion Main Line-1 (ML-1) railway project in January 2027, as it pushes for an accelerated timeline set by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. The first phase of the project will cover the 480km Karachi-Rohri/Sukkur section, with civil and track works, fencing, bridges, culverts, stations, freight yards, and buildings to be constructed.
Online early market engagement with contractors, consultants, and project design and monitoring experts is scheduled for September 8, 2026, to discuss project readiness, procurement progress, and strategy. The project is expected to take between two-and-a-half and three years to complete, financed by the Asian Development Bank, with co-financing explored from AIIB, EIN, the World Bank, and IsDB.
PR aims to upgrade the existing track to enable trains to operate at speeds of up to 160km per hour, significantly improving passenger facilities and overall performance, as well as strengthening the foundation for Pakistan Railways' future development and modernization.
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