Pakistan Railways to take up ML-1 project, woo investors at BRF

Islamabad: A special meeting was convened by Pakistan’s Federal Railways Secretary Syed Mazhar Ali Shah with the primary agenda of gearing up for an upcoming visit to China, with a particular focus on the Belt and Road Forum (BRF).

The key objectives of this meeting encompassed the promotion of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC)’s Main Line 1 (ML-1) project and the presentation of various railway initiatives to potential investors. An overall assessment of the preparations indicated that they were deemed satisfactory.

According to an official statement, it was decided that several other substantial railway projects would be showcased to attract prospective investors.

These projects include improving the connectivity to Gwadar, upgrading the Quetta-Taftan rail link, establishing a new connection between Quetta and Zhob, and Dera Ismail Khan.

The Dedicated Freight Corridor (DFC) linking Karachi Port and Pipri was part of the presentation, along with a new rail link connecting Kohat, Thal, and Kharlachi. Initiatives regarding solarization within the railways and the development and commercialization of railway stations were also discussed.

The Federal Railways Secretary expressed satisfaction with the level of preparedness for this significant endeavor.