Report by Engineering Post
Pakistan Railways mega project Main Line -1 (ML-1) from Karachi to Peshawar after hanging in balance for about ten years due to no agreement between China and Pakistan on concessional financing under the CPEC framework is now going to be implemented hopefully in phases under multilateral financing to be provided by Manila, the Philippines, based Asian Development Bank (ADP) and Beijing, China, headquartered Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) besides federal government during 2026. ADB has approved to provide funds amounted to $ 2 billion for the first phase of ML-1 mega project from Karachi to Rohri.
According to an agreement reached between the ADB and the Federal Government, the ground -breaking ceremony of the fits phase 480 kilometers long from Karachi to Rohri of the ML-1 is likely to take place in July 2026 if all goes well.
More than 1800 kilometers long Karachi to Peshawar ML-1 is the backbone of Pakistan Railways facilitating nearly as much as 80 percent of passenger traffic and 90 percent of freight traffic across the country.
While everyone seems to keep their fingers crossed for much-awaited ground breaking of Karachi to Rohri section, it has also be decided at the appropriately concerned official quarters, a detailed engineering design of ML-1 449 kilometers long Rohri-Khanpur-Multan section will also be undertaken at an estimated cost of Rs 3.218 billion ($ 11.491 million), ADB will be providing Rs 2.798 billion ( $ 9.992 million) under the Project Readiness Financing while the remaining amount will be provided by Pakistan.
In the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) 2025-26, Railways Division’s ongoing projects include “Remodified PC-1 for Upgradation of Pakistan Railways existing Main Line-1 (ML-1) and Establishment of Dryport near Havelian” as approved by the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) in July 2024 at an estimated cost of Rs 1970220.000 million and “Preliminary Design Drawings for Up gradation/Rehabilitation of Main Line (ML-1) and Establishment of Dry Port near Havelian under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and hiring of design/drawings vetting consultants” which was approved by the ECNEC in April 2017 for implementation at an estimated cost of Rs 10631.634 million. Cost of this project has already gone up to Rs 11824.949 million.
A clear picture may emerge regarding ML-1 implementation in phases and funding when the PSDP 2026-27 surfaces with the new federal budget for financial year 2026-27 in June 2026 , please.
