Fund ML-1 partly via railway land commercialisation, says PM Shehbaz

During a recent review meeting on reforms in Pakistan Railways chaired by Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz, it was decided that the construction of Main Line-1 (ML-1) should be carried out commercially, leveraging the billions of rupees worth of identified railway lands. The PM directed officials to expedite the upgrading of ML-1, which stretches 1,733 km from Peshawar to Karachi and is a key component of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

The ML-1 project aims to modernize and improve the railway system, enhancing travel for passengers and increasing freight transport. Prime Minister Shehbaz commended the efforts of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) and the Ministry of Railways in identifying and disposing of encroached railway lands. He emphasized the importance of harnessing the commercial potential of railway properties to benefit the national economy and the railway institution.

The PM approved using bank funding for ML-1's construction through commercial projects on railway land. He directed the submission of a comprehensive plan within two weeks for this purpose. The 1,726 km ML-1 is divided into four main sections: Karachi-Rohri, Rohri-Multan, Multan-Lahore, and Lahore-Peshawar. International financing is being utilized for the Karachi-Rohri section, while local resource funding plans are under development for the remaining sections.