Islamabad, 2 November 2021 (TDI): China is going to modernize the Pakistani railway under the framework of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
Chinese project Mainline-1 (ML-1) will work under CPEC and the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) to modernize and revamp the old Pakistani railway infrastructure. It was announced as the strategic project of Pakistan under the Joint Cooperation Committee (JCC) of the CPEC in 2017.
ML-1 will work on the 1,872 kilometers long railway track of Pakistan. It is planned to connect the Pakistani railway to the Torkham border. The Pakistani railway will be upgraded from the South to the North under the multi-billion project of the CPEC. The ML-1 project will cost about $6.8 billion.
Pakistani railway was established by the British Raj in the subcontinent in the 19th century. Pakistan never upgraded its railway which it got from the British Raj. At present, in 2021, Pakistan is still using the 150 years old railway infrastructure.
The up-gradation of the railway will help the Pakistani economy
The up-gradation in the Pakistani railway infrastructure will not only help the Pakistani transport system but will also help its economy. It will provide connectivity to the country and will help in transporting the logistics on time. It will also provide comfortable traveling to the passengers.
Under the ML-1 project, there will be up-gradation and modernization of the railway tracks between Lala Musa to Lahore, Lahore to Multan, Nawab Shah to Rohri, Lala Musa to Rawalpindi, Nowshera-Peshawar, and Hyderabad Karachi section. It will also upgrade the Multan Khanewal to the Sukkur section.
After the complete up-gradation, the tracks will become dual tracks. It will shorten the time period of traveling. The passenger trains’ speed will increase from 65-110 kilometers per hour to 160 kilometers per hour. It will also revolutionize the traditional Pakistani railway system into a computer-based signaling and control system. This will help to lessen the number of accidents of railway which has been an issue of concern for the Pakistani railway.
The ML-1 project will play an important role in the economic development of Pakistan. It will also create employment opportunities. The Pakistani government has proposed China extend the project to the Torkham border. It will help to connect the trade route with Afghanistan and the Central Asian region.
CPEC aims to help Pakistan in its social and economic development. Pakistan will become a trade hub after the completion of the ML-1 project. Chinese project BRI also aims to establish connectivity in the region. ML-1 project will help China in achieving the connectivity of the region. It will be win-win cooperation for both sides.
