[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text dp_text_size=”size-4″]Pakistan Railways has called on Chinese authorities to expedite the implementation of the Mainline-1 (ML-1) project, a crucial component of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
During a meeting with a high-level delegation from China’s National Railway Administration, Pakistan Railway CEO Amir Baloch urged the acceleration of the multi-billion-dollar ML-1 project. The 21-member Chinese delegation, led by Zhu Mengrui, expressed full support and commitment to ensuring the timely commencement of the transformative ML-1 project.
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Baloch highlighted the exceptional cooperation between Pakistan and China in the energy and transport sectors, describing ML-1 as a game-changer that will revolutionize Pakistan’s transport landscape and significantly boost revenue in the freight sector.
Zhu Mengrui, leading the ML-1 project team, assured collaborative efforts to address various aspects, including financing schemes and design proposals, marking a significant step towards strengthening economic ties and reducing transportation costs by establishing economic zones linked to ML-1.
Wang Chen, representing the Science and Technology Department of the Chinese Railways, was also a prominent member of the 21-member delegation.
Recently, the Ministry of Railways submitted the revised PC-1 of the ML-1 project to the Ministry of Planning. The PC-1 will undergo presentations before the Central Development Working Party (CDWP) and the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) for approval.
The estimated overall project cost is $6.67 billion, to be executed in two phases. The revised PC-1 outlines the construction of an initial phase covering a 930-kilometre track to be completed within five years, costing $3,159.7 million.
Package One includes a 397-kilometre track, encompassing Nowshera, Rohri, Khanpur, and PR Walton, while Package Two extends for 533 kilometres. Package Two includes tracks from Karachi to Nawabshah (296 kilometers) and from Khanpur to Multan (237 kilometers), with a total expenditure of $3,159 million.
The second phase of ML-1 incurs a cost of $3,518.8 million, covering a track length of 796 kilometers. Package Three links Multan to Lahore (334 kilometers) with an expenditure of $799 million.
Package Four includes tracks from Lahore to Rawalpindi (288 kilometers) and Rawalpindi to Peshawar (174 kilometers), along with the Havelian Dry Port. The total cost is $2,719 million, with an expected completion within four years. PC-1 serves as a comprehensive project document detailing project needs, description, justification, location, duration, cost estimates, and anticipated benefits.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
