Pakistan Railways eyes start of Rs2.3tr ML-1 project this year
Chairman Railways Syed Mazhar Ali Shah on Tuesday anticipated the commencement of the crucial Main Line-1 (ML-1) project this year despite pending government funding while the Ministry of Railways manages to complete only six out of its 38 approved projects during the current fiscal year at a total cost of Rs260.085 billion. The chairman briefed the Senate Standing Committee on Railways that the ministry has submitted a proposal for Rs75bn for the ML-1 project for the fiscal year 2025-26. The total estimated cost of ML-1, termed the “lifeline of the Reko Diq and Thar coal projects,” is Rs2,298.18bn. The remaining 32 projects from the current fiscal year have been carried forward to the next fiscal year.