Pakistan nominates Mazhar Ali Shah as focal person for CPEC’s ML-1 project

Lahore: Pakistan has nominated Pakistan Railways Additional Secretary Mazhar Ali Shah as the focal person for the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC)’s Main Line 1 (ML-1) project.

Earlier this week, Chinese President Xi Jinping, in a meeting with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, assured China’s continued support for Pakistan’s sustainable economic and strategic projects including the ML-1rail track.

Last week, Pakistan’s Executive Committee of National Economic Council (ECNEC) considered and approved in principle Ministry of Railways modified Planning Commission Form –I (PC-1) for up-gradation of Pakistan Railways existing ML-1 project at the total cost of US $ 9,851.079 million subject to recommendation of cost, technical details and preferably an equity participation financial model.

ML-1 starts from Karachi, passes through Kotri/Hyderabad, Rohri, Multan, Lahore, Rawalpindi and terminates at Peshawar.

ECNEC also considered and approved in principle Karachi Circular Railway (KCR) Project at total cost Pakistani Rs 292.4 billion with foreign share of Rs 263.149 billion.

ML-1 is the largest of the infrastructure projects as part of the CPEC at a cost of $6.86 billion. The project involves the up-gradation and dualization of ML-1 to increase the operating speed from the current 60 kilometers per hour (KM/h) and 105 km/h to a proposed 160 km/h.

The project also involves the establishment of a dry port near Havelian. ML-1, the Karachi to Peshawar line, is one of four main railway lines in Pakistan, operated and maintained by Pakistan Railways. The line begins from Karachi City Station or Kiamari station and ends at Peshawar Cantonment Station.

The total length of this railway line is 1,687 kilometers. There are 184 railway stations from Kiamari to Peshawar Cantonment on this line. The line serves as the main passenger and freight line of the country. Seventy five percent of the country’s cargo and passenger traffic uses the ML-1. The existing timeline for the completion of ML-1 extends to December 2024.

Railways Minister Khwaja Saad Rafique nominated Additional Secretary Mazhar Ali Shah as the focal person for the ML-1. He also said that Pakistan will develop a financial model with the cooperation of China.

Chairing a high-level meeting at the Pakistan Railways headquarters here, he directed the Railways administration to enhance business of the department with the cooperation of cement manufacturers.

He ordered to issue a new tender for the freight express train. He expressed his satisfaction on the rehabilitation work at the Sibbi-Harnai railway section.

He directed to form strategies for early restoration of income generating sections in the railways Quetta division.

The minister also appointed PR Director General Planning Abdul Malik as the focal person for Ther Coal project and Director General Technical M Yousuf as focal person for Karachi Circular Railways project.