Pakistan to Launch First Phase of ML-1 Railway Project Next Year
The federal government has announced that construction of the first phase of the Main Line-1 (ML-1) railway project is expected to begin early next year, marking a significant step toward modernizing Pakistan’s railway network.
Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal shared the update during the launch of the government’s monthly development review for the 2026 fiscal year.
According to the minister, work will start on the Rohri-Karachi section of the ML-1 project, with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) providing approximately $2 billion in financing for the initial phase.
The complete ML-1 project involves upgrading the 1,680-kilometer Peshawar-Karachi railway line, one of Pakistan’s most important transportation corridors. The overall project is estimated to cost around $10 billion and forms part of the country’s broader infrastructure development plans.
In addition to the railway upgrade, the government plans to begin work on several major road infrastructure projects during the new fiscal year. These include the expansion of the Karachi-Hyderabad M-9 Motorway, construction of the Sukkur-Hyderabad-Karachi M-6 Motorway, and improvements to the Chaman-Quetta-Karachi Highway.
The minister also announced the launch of the Karakoram Highway-II project. The new route will replace a section of the existing highway that will be affected by the construction of the Diamer-Bhasha Dam, helping maintain trade and transport links between Pakistan and China.
Alongside infrastructure development, the federal government plans to work closely with provincial governments to strengthen investment in key social sectors. The initiative will focus on improving child nutrition, expanding healthcare services, enhancing education, and supporting efforts to eliminate Hepatitis C over the next three to four years.
The government says these projects are part of its broader strategy to improve transportation, strengthen regional connectivity, and support long-term economic and social development across the country.
