CPEC: Pakistan Railways seeks China’s help speed up work on ML-1 project

Islamabad: Pakistan Railway administration has requested China to help speed up work on the Main Line One (ML-1) project under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

Pakistan Railway Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Amir Baloch held a reception for a high-level delegation from China’s National Railway Administration and made the appeal.

The 21-member delegation, led by Zhu Mengrui, expressed full support for the timely initiation of the ML-1 project, which Baloch emphasized as a transformative initiative crucial for revolutionizing Pakistan’s transport and enhancing revenue in the freight sector.

According to an official statement issued on Saturday afternoon, collaborative efforts were assured by Zhu Mengrui, covering financing schemes and design proposals.

This marks a significant stride in strengthening economic ties and reducing transportation costs, particularly through economic zones linked to ML-1.

The civil work on the ML-1 project is anticipated to commence in the next financial year, with a revised agreement set to be signed between Pakistan and China under the CPEC.

The three-phase project, costing US $ 6.7 billion, aims to upgrade and double the 1733-kilometre railway track from Karachi to Peshawar, incorporating modern signaling and telecom systems.

The upgraded tracks will enable trains to run at 140 kilometres per hour, with the overall project featuring the construction of various railway tracks, bridges, culverts, fencing, and grade separation. Pakistan and China had initially signed the ML-1 framework in May 2017, with project approval from the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) in August 2020.