ISLAMABAD – The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC)’s Mainline 1 (ML-1) project has the potential not only to solve Pakistan’s transportation problems but also create 174,000 direct jobs in the country.
According to Pakistan Economic Survey 20-21, the ML-1 project would upgrade and dualize the rail track from northwestern city of Peshawar to southern Karachi (1872 km) and has a “potential to create 174,000 direct jobs”.
According to the survey, the huge inflow of investment under CPEC will generate massive economic activities and consequently employment opportunities.
Apart from focusing on energy, infrastructure and Gwadar projects, 9 Special Economic Zones (SEZs) will be established under CPEC, which will create “tremendous job opportunities and technological transformation”.
The official documents read that Investment under CPEC is expected to be around $ 50.70 billion and employment opportunities under CPEC would further go up.
According to experts, with the completion of ML-1, Peshawar will be transformed into an “international business hub” and in future, the ML-1 could connect Afghanistan and central Asian countries via Peshawar with Karachi Seaport. Apart from enhancing goods’ transportation, ML-1 is one of the major solutions to the existing transportation issues of Pakistan. According to officials of Pakistan Railways, the safety of passengers over the existing railway track between Peshawar and Karachi has been compromised. On June 6, at least 65 passengers had died while more than others were wounded when two trains collided in Ghotki district of Sindh.
