Ministry of Railways highlights safety, digitization and tracking reforms along with ML-1
Federal Minister for Pakistan Railways Muhammad Hanif Abbasi said an agreement on the ML-1 project had been finalized with the Asian Development Bank and called it a major step towards modernization of the railway network.
During a meeting in Islamabad with ADB Director General Leah Gutierrez and Defense Minister Lt. Gen. Muhammad Ali, Abbasi said steps were taken to advance the project, which he wants completed as early as possible.
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The meeting was also attended by Secretary Power Division Dr. Fakhar Alam Irfan and Director General of National Logistics Cell Major General Farrukh Shehzad Rao.
Abbasi said Pakistan’s first “Safe and Smart Railway Station” had been set up in Rawalpindi with an AI-based surveillance system and 184 surveillance cameras.
He added that a Rail Tag system that allows real-time tracking of trains and rolling stock had been introduced, which he said would improve transparency and efficiency.
According to the ministry, about 70% of the increase in passengers is covered by free Wi-Fi at major stations and ATMs have been installed to support electronic payments.
Describing the ML-1 as the central rail corridor, officials said it carries about 80% of passenger traffic and 90% of freight nationwide, arguing that aging infrastructure requires urgent upgrades.
Defense Minister Lt. Gen. Muhammad Ali and other officials took note of the ministry’s reform initiatives and acknowledged the efforts to improve Pakistan Railways.
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The meeting ended with an understanding to continue institutional cooperation and coordination on railway projects. Officials said the groundbreaking ceremony for the Karachi-Rohri section of ML-1 is scheduled for July 2026.
Earlier, experts from the Asian Development Bank have already conducted on-the-ground inspections of the Karachi-Rohri section and reviewed existing infrastructure as part of a fact-finding to assess funding options. Officials say the section carries mostly freight and passenger traffic.
