Islamabad (TDI): Pakistan and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) are close to finalizing a $2 billion financing agreement aimed at completing the first phase of the long-delayed Main Line-1 (ML-1) railway upgrade; a cornerstone project in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) initiative.
Officials familiar with the negotiations said on Wednesday that talks have reached an “advanced level,” signaling renewed optimism for one of the most ambitious transport infrastructure programs in the country’s history.
The proposed funding would specifically focus on modernizing the 480-kilometer Karachi–Rohri section, a critical stretch that forms part of the broader $7 billion ML-1 project.
The ML-1 corridor, extending from Kotri in Sindh to Attock in Punjab, is designed to transform Pakistan’s ageing rail network by enhancing freight capacity, improving passenger services, and boosting connectivity across key economic zones.
Officials say the initiative, once completed, will include more than 90 upgraded stations and a dedicated freight line, bolstering trade flows both domestically and regionally.
A senior Pakistan Railways official, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed that discussions with the ADB have progressed with the support of a consortium that includes China and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB). The official described the proposed $2 billion arrangement as “crucial” to advancing the phase-one rollout.
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Pakistan Railways CEO Amir Ali Baloch underscored the government’s prioritization of the ML-1 upgrade, stating that it tops the current infrastructure agenda.
While details of the financing and implementation arrangement remain under wraps, Baloch confirmed that the military-run National Logistics Corporation (NLC) will play a role in executing the project.
Despite progress, an ADB spokesperson cautioned that any formal assistance is still subject to “comprehensive due diligence and consideration” under the bank’s own policies; a standard procedure for projects of this scale.
The push to revive ML-1 comes amid broader government efforts to modernize Pakistan’s transportation infrastructure after years of stalled financing and shifting priorities.
Railway officials have also indicated that rehabilitation work on the ML-3 corridor, connecting Rohri to Taftan and onward to Iran and Turkey, could begin as early as April, further expanding Pakistan’s strategic freight network.
If sealed, the ADB financing deal would mark a significant milestone in breathing new life into Pakistan’s railway system while strengthening economic ties with multilateral partners and advancing critical regional connectivity goals.
