Pakistan is advancing talks with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) over a potential $2 billion loan to complete the first phase of the multibillion-dollar Main Line-1 (ML-1) railway modernization project. This section covers 480 kilometers between Karachi and Rohri and forms a key part of the $7 billion CPEC initiative.
The ML-1 project aims to modernize Pakistan’s 1,250-kilometer strategic railway corridor from Kotri to Attock, including over 90 stations and a dedicated freight track. Pakistan Railways CEO Amir Ali Baloch confirmed that the government has prioritized ML-1’s upgradation to expand freight capacity, boost trade, and modernize decades-old infrastructure for sustained economic growth.
Phase-1 financing discussions involve both multilateral and domestic partners, including the National Logistics Corporation (NLC). Officials indicated that ML-3 rehabilitation, spanning Rohri to Taftan via Sibbi and Quetta, may begin in April. If successful, these projects would mark the largest overhaul in Pakistan’s railway history.
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