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The Railway Division submitted the ML-I project brief to ECNEC without arranging finance from the Public Sector Development Programme, China or any other international financial institution. Photo: AFP
ISLAMABAD:
Work on the Main Line-I (ML-I) project will begin from Karachi Port in July 2026, Railway Minister Hanif Abbasi announced on Tuesday.
The ML-1 initiative is designed to overhaul and modernize major rail infrastructure and improve both freight and passenger connectivity between Karachi and Peshawar.
Last month, a review meeting on the Public Sector Development Program (PSDP) projects was told that the project would begin in July this year.
During his recent visit to Karachi and a meeting with Chairman Karachi Port Trust (KPT) Rear Admiral (retd) Shahid Ahmed, Abbasi said a joint strategy has been finalized to improve the logistics and cargo handling performance of the port.
Both sides agreed to strengthen the railway system to ensure efficient transportation of goods from Karachi Port, a statement issued on Tuesday said.
The minister outlined major reform initiatives in the freight transport sector and stressed that serious efforts are underway to shift freight movement from road to rail to improve efficiency and reduce logistics costs.
He said Pakistan Railways would expand its freight handling capacity significantly in the coming months. As part of this initiative, the rail infrastructure connected to Karachi Port will be upgraded and made more efficient.
Abbasi further announced that the 54 kilometer railway section between KPT and Pipri will be modernized to facilitate faster and smoother movement of goods.
