Fund ML-1 partly via railway land commercialisation, says PM Shehbaz
- The upgradation of ML-1 holds key importance for the development of Pakistan Railways
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif directed that the crucial ML-1 railway project be funded commercially by utilizing Pakistan Railways' valuable land, emphasizing corporate reforms and expedited work.
- Commercial funding for the ML-1 railway project.
- Upgrading the 1,733 km Main Line-1 as part of CPEC.
- Utilizing Pakistan Railways' valuable land for commercial development.
Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz construction of Main Line-1 (ML-1) should be undertaken on a commercial basis by utilising the identified lands worth billions of rupees of Pakistan Railways.
The development came during a review meeting on reforms in Pakistan Railways was held in Islamabad under the chairmanship of PM Shehbaz.
In the meeting, the PM directed 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 part of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), aims to upgrade and modernise Pakistan Railways’ existing Main Line-1, stretching 1,733 km from Peshawar to Karachi.
ADB assures support to ML-1 Railway project
PM commended the efforts of teams from NAB and the Ministry of Railways, led by the NAB Chairman, regarding the identification and disposal of encroached lands of Pakistan Railways.
Addressing the meeting, the PM said 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.
There is a need to harness the real commercial potential present in the properties of the railways, he said.
PM further said that by effectively utilising the valuable lands of the railways for commercial purposes, a role should be played in the national economy and the development of the institution.
PM 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 in the next two weeks.
It was informed to the meeting that the upgradation of the 1,726 km long ML-1 has been divided into four major sections, including Karachi-Rohri, Rohri-Multan, Multan-Lahore, and Lahore-Peshawar sections.
It was told to the meeting 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 in two weeks regarding the utilisation of the disposed railway land on a commercial basis and obtaining bank funding for the construction of ML-1.
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