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…

dawn.com ·1h ago

Civil construction for the initial $2.5 billion phase of the Main Line-1 (ML-1) railway project is set to commence in January 2027, as Pakistan Railways (PR) intensifies its efforts to meet the timeline established by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. The first portion of the project spans the 480km route between Karachi and Rohri, where new tracklines, fencing, and associated infrastructure will be constructed.

The project is anticipated to span between two-and-a-half to three years, with financing to be provided by the Asian Development Bank, along with potential co-financing from AIIB, EIN, the World Bank, and the IsDB.

The online market engagement session for contractors and consultants is scheduled for September 8, during which discussions will cover package sizes, qualifications, bid preparations, and technical and financial weightings. PR is committed to expediting the project commencement, with Railway Minister Hanif Abbasi affirming the government's priority for the ML-1 project.

The upgraded infrastructure is expected to enable trains to operate at speeds of up to 160km per hour, while the project aims to enhance passenger facilities, train speeds, and overall railway performance.

Written by urgent.news from Dawn's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.