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Federal Minister for Pakistan Railways Muhammad Hanif Abbasi said the ML-1 railway project agreement has been finalised with the Asian Development Bank, calling it a major breakthrough in efforts to modernise Pakistan’s rail network. He said the government wants the project completed at the earliest to improve passenger and freight movement nationwide.
Abbasi shared the update during a meeting in Islamabad with ADB Director General Leah Gutierrez and Defence Secretary Lt Gen Muhammad Ali, where steps to advance the project were reviewed. Senior officials, including Secretary Power Division Dr Fakhar Alam Irfan and the Director General of the National Logistics Cell, also attended the meeting.
The railways minister said Pakistan’s first “Safe and Smart Railway Station” has been established in Rawalpindi, equipped with an AI-based monitoring system and 184 surveillance cameras. He added that a Rail Tag system for real-time tracking of trains and rolling stock has been introduced to improve transparency and operational efficiency.
According to the ministry, free Wi-Fi now covers nearly 70% of passenger footfall at major stations, while ATMs have been installed to support digital payments.
Officials described ML-1 as Pakistan’s central rail corridor, carrying nearly 80% of passenger traffic and 90% of freight, stressing that ageing infrastructure urgently needs upgrades.
“ML-1 is the backbone of Pakistan Railways and its modernisation is critical for economic growth,” officials said during the meeting.
The meeting concluded with an understanding to maintain close institutional coordination on rail projects. Officials confirmed that the groundbreaking ceremony for the Karachi-Rohri section of ML-1 is planned for July 2026. ADB experts have already conducted on-ground inspections of the section, which handles the bulk of passenger and freight traffic, as part of financing assessments.
