The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC), chaired by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, has given the green light to a major project to upgrade Pakistan Railways’ Main Line-1 (ML-1). The project, which aims to enhance the existing railway infrastructure, has been approved in two phases.
Phase-I of the project covers a distance of 929 kilometers from Karachi to Multan, with an estimated cost of $3.32 billion. Funding for this phase has been initially secured from China.
Phase-II will span 797 kilometers from Multan to Peshawar and is projected to cost $3.36 billion. However, financing for this phase is still awaiting confirmation.
This initiative marks a significant step towards modernizing and improving Pakistan’s railway network, which is crucial for enhancing transportation efficiency and connectivity across the country. The approval by ECNEC underscores the government’s commitment to infrastructure development and economic growth through strategic investments in key sectors like transportation.
