Pakistan, Asian Development Bank discuss early groundbreaking of ML-1 railway

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif urged for a swift commencement of works on the planned upgrade of Pakistan's Main Line-1 railway on Friday, as Pakistan and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) deliberated on infrastructure and development priorities amid a new partnership strategy spanning 2026-30. The dialogue took place between Shehbaz and ADB's Vice President for South, Central, and West Asia, Yingming Yang, according to a Prime Minister's Office statement.

The discussions were heavily centered around the modernization of the 1,733 km-long ML-1 railway corridor, stretching from Karachi to Peshawar, a vital national infrastructure. The prime minister highlighted that upgrading the ML-1 railway is crucial for enhancing freight logistics, bolstering regional trade links, and backing significant industrial projects.

The meeting underscored the urgency of breaking ground on the ML-1 project, pivotal for infrastructure advancement and modernizing connectivity. ADB's involvement is pivotal, given its role in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), which this railway project is a cornerstone of. During the meeting, both parties also examined the multi-decade development partnership, outlining key interventions under the new Country Partnership Strategy (CPS) 2026–2030.

Shehbaz underscored Pakistan's successful economic recovery, achieved through stringent fiscal, structural, and governance reforms, which have stabilized the macroeconomy and bolstered investor confidence, securing positive outlook ratings from agencies like Fitch, Moody’s, and S&P. The prime minister reiterated the government's dedication to long-term economic change, highlighting the dismantling of administrative barriers through focused execution teams.

The discussions also broached collaborative opportunities to support the private sector, energy security, food security, bolstering export competitiveness, Artificial Intelligence, and Information Technology. The meeting concluded with a commitment to turn CPS 2026–2030's strategic priorities into tangible, high-impact outcomes, aiming to foster sustainable growth and markedly improve the quality of life for Pakistan's citizens.