- Says huge potential existed for foreign investment in railways, stressing early materialization of its projects
- ML-1 project is in final stage of modalities, ground-breaking would be performed by early next year
ISLAMABAD: Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar on Wednesday vowed to complete Main Line-1 (ML-1) project on a priority basis as it would improve connectivity between the country’s seaports with its economic zones, describing the ML-1 railway project under CPEC as most favourable transit route for the regional countries.
While chairing a meeting held to discuss ML-1 railway project here at the PM House, PM Anwaarul Haq Kakar said the project would contribute to the improvement of communication network in the country.
نگران وزیرِ اعظم انوار الحق کاکڑ کی زیرِ صدارت مین لائن ون (ML-1) منصوبے پر جائزہ اجلاس۔
پاکستان ریلوے کا مین لائن ون (ML-1) منصوبہ سی پیک کا ایک اہم حصہ ہے اور حکومت اس کی ترجیحی بنیادوں پر تکمیل یقینی بنائے گی۔
~ نگران وزیرِ اعظم انوار الحق کاکڑ pic.twitter.com/TXj8ltqQXG— Government of Pakistan (@GovtofPakistan) November 15, 2023
The prime minister said there existed huge potential for foreign investment in Pakistan Railways and stressed the need for early materialization of its projects. He stressed meeting the targets of the project within stipulated time and directed the formulation of a comprehensive reform strategy for Pakistan Railways to maximize the benefits of the ML-1.
Emphasizing transparency in the implementation of ML-1, he said the project would result in the creation of new employment opportunities and reduced travel time and freight rates. The meeting was told that the ML-1 project was in its final stage of modalities and its ground-breaking would be performed by early next year.
The project will be completed in two phases. In the first phase, a 930-kilometre-long rail track will be laid from Karachi to Multan. Also, the railway infrastructure damaged by the 2022 flood will be upgraded as per international standards.
Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar chaired a meeting to discuss ML-1 Project. pic.twitter.com/W15pUb50Z9
— Government of Pakistan (@GovtofPakistan) November 15, 2023
In the next phase, the 796-kilometre-long rail track from Multan to Peshawar will be laid in line with the requirements of the future.
The meeting was attended by caretaker federal ministers including Shamshad Akhtar and Sami Saeed, PM’s Adviser Ahad Khan, PM’s Special Assistant Jahanzeb Khan, and senior officials of the ministries concerned.
