{
  "id": 11097068,
  "title": "Asian Development Bank backs ML-1 modernisation",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/01/asian-development-bank-backs-ml-1-modernisation-11097068",
  "topic": "finance",
  "section": "Finance & Markets",
  "published": "2026-10-01T03:31:09.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Dawn",
    "slug": "dawn",
    "url": "https://www.dawn.com/news/2033863/asian-development-bank-backs-ml-1-modernisation"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Islamabad: The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is finalizing a $1.1 billion investment programme to enhance the efficiency, safety and sustainability of Pakistan Railways' Main Line-1 (ML-1) railway between Karachi and Rohri by 2040. The fact-finding mission, scheduled for January 2027, will evaluate project details with the federal and Sindh governments. The multi-tranche facility will support upgrading the 480km Karachi-Rohri section, the core passenger and freight corridor, with climate-resilient railway infrastructure, signalling and operations modernisation, and institutional and capacity-building measures. ADB will contribute $1bn from ordinary capital resources and $100m from concessional ordinary capital resources lending. The project aims to boost national and regional connectivity, logistics efficiency, and economic competitiveness by establishing a fast, safe, reliable, affordable, and environmentally sustainable railway system. ADB Vice President for South, Central and West Asia Yingming Yang recently visited Islamabad to discuss ML-1 modernisation with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and other government officials. Prime Minister Sharif stressed the importance of upgrading ML-1 for modernising freight logistics and strengthening regional trade connectivity. Railways Minister Hanif Abbasi informed the ADB official that the Karachi-Rohri ML-1 upgradation project, estimated at $2.5bn, is targeted for completion within three years, with the 183km Nawabshah-Rohri section prioritized. Abbasi urged for expedited approval of the central investment loan and pledged Pakistan's continued cooperation with ADB and other development partners for financing the remaining ML-1 sections from Rohri to Peshawar.",
  "summary": "ISLAMABAD: After extensive consultations with the government, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) is finalising a $1.1 billion investment programme to improve the efficiency, safety and sustainability of railway transport along Pakistan Railways’ Main Line-1 between Karachi and Rohri by 2040. A fact-finding mission of the ADB has been planned for January 2027 to discuss and evaluate project details…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Dawn Business",
        "title": "Asian Development Bank backs ML-1 modernisation",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/01/asian-development-bank-backs-ml-1-modernisation",
        "published": "2026-10-01T03:31:09.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}