Upgradation of ML-I rail track discussed

Chinese Railway Eryuan Corporation (CREEC) team headed by its Vice President Xhao called on acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Pakistan Railways Humayun Rashid and leader CPEC project Pakistan Railways Ashfaq Khattak here on Thursday to discuss upgradation of ML-I rail track from Karachi to Peshawar, Business Recorder has leant through reliable sources.
The Chinese team was briefed by the project leader that under the vision 2025 set up by the government of Pakistan, Pakistan Railways is supposed to increase its share in both cargo and passenger transportation sector up to roughly 20-25 percent which is at present not more than 4 percent. Currently Pakistan Railways carries 5-6 million cargo and 55-60 million passengers in one year.
"To achieve the given target, there is no other way but to upgrade the major carrier of this load - ML1. Pakistan Railways has competent engineers and officers, who along with Chinese consultants, have conducted a joint survey for traffic forecast and economic/financial viability of this project," Ashfaq Khattak told participants of the delegation.
He further said that the forecast was kept modest at first and it was cross verified by the international organizations like ADB and World Bank. According to the experts' survey, Pakistan Railways traffic share after upgradation is likely to surge to 80-90 million passengers per year besides 20-25 million tonnes of cargo. Interestingly, this forecast doesn't include the cargo traffic coming from China or any other country of the region.
Ashfaq said, "There is no doubt about the potential of transportation in Pakistan and this project, which is bound to give speed and strength to country's lifeline. It is both economically and financially viable. It will not only open new avenues for economic activities in Pakistan but will be fully capable to repay the loan offered by China. We look forward a better future of Pakistan linked with this track and CPEC," he added.
It may be mentioned here that Pakistan Railways has been associated with the Chinese consultants' team for more than a year for the project of upgradation of Main Line-I which is 1850 km long existing track that runs from Karachi to Peshawar connecting most populated areas of Pakistan. This project is strategically most significant under CPEC framework as 70 percent of traffic of Pakistan Railways flows through it.