PM Shehbaz Directs Commercial Funding Model for ML-1 Railway Upgrade
Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif has directed that the construction of Main Line-1 (ML-1) should be undertaken on a commercial basis by utilising billions of rupees worth of identified lands belonging to Pakistan Railways. The directive came during a review meeting on reforms in Pakistan Railways, held in Islamabad under the Prime Minister's chairmanship.
During the meeting, PM Shehbaz instructed officials to expedite work on the upgradation of ML-1 and to implement corporate-style reforms in Pakistan Railways. The ML-1 project, a crucial component of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), aims to upgrade and modernise Pakistan Railways' existing Main Line-1, stretching 1,733 kilometres from Peshawar to Karachi.
The Prime Minister commended the efforts of teams from the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) and the Ministry of Railways, led by the NAB Chairman, regarding the identification and disposal of encroached Pakistan Railways lands. Addressing the meeting, he emphasised that the upgradation of ML-1 holds key importance for the development of Pakistan Railways, providing better travel facilities to passengers and increasing freight transport capacity.
He underscored the need to harness the real commercial potential present in the properties of the railways. PM Shehbaz further stated that by effectively utilising the valuable lands of the railways for commercial purposes, a meaningful contribution should be made to the national economy and the development of the institution. The Prime Minister approved the utilisation of bank funding for the construction of ML-1 through various commercial projects on railway land.
Keeping in view the real commercial capacity of railway land, the Prime Minister directed that a comprehensive plan be submitted within the next two weeks.
The meeting was informed that the upgradation of the 1,726-kilometre-long ML-1 has been divided into four major sections: Karachi-Rohri, Rohri-Multan, Multan-Lahore, and Lahore-Peshawar. It was further disclosed that international financing is being utilised for the upgradation of the Karachi-Rohri section, while funding plans from local resources are being prepared for the other sections of ML-1.
The Prime Minister directed that a comprehensive course of action be presented within two weeks regarding the utilisation of the disposed railway land on a commercial basis and obtaining bank funding for the construction of ML-1, signalling a decisive push toward modernising Pakistan's rail infrastructure through innovative financing mechanisms.