National

LAHORE: Pakistan’s long-delayed Main Line-1 (ML-1) railway modernisation project has entered a crucial stage, with the government setting October 30, 2026, as the deadline for completing the ongoing review process and announcing plans to begin the second round of market consultations next month. The latest developments are expected to help resolve outstanding technical, financial and procedural matters and move the country’s largest railway infrastructure initiative towards formal implementation. The second round of market consultation is scheduled to commence on September 8. International experts, prospective investors and other relevant stakeholders will be consulted during the process to seek their views on project preparation, implementation arrangements, financing and the future course of the scheme. The consultations are considered an important step before the government proceeds towards the execution stage of the project, which has faced repeated delays over the years because of financing, technical and procedural challenges. Weekly reviews ordered Pakistan Railways Chairman Syed Mazhar Ali Shah chaired a high-level meeting at the railway headquarters on Saturday to review progress on ML-1. During the meeting, the chairman directed international design consultants, review consultants and senior railway officials to maintain close coordination and ensure that work on the project continues without unnecessary interruptions. He also ordered weekly progress reviews, instructing officials to identify unresolved matters at an early stage and take immediate steps to remove bottlenecks. The Karachi-Rohri segment received particular attention during the meeting as it has been identified as the first section to be developed under the revised ML-1 plan. Karachi-Rohri section According to official documents presented before the National Assembly, the Karachi-Rohri portion covers approximately 480 kilometres and has an estimated cost of $2.04 billion. Construction of the section is expected to take around three years once the project moves into the implementation phase. The government has engaged the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to arrange financing for this segment. Pakistan has also secured a $10 million Project Readiness Financing loan to support preparatory work required before full-scale implementation. The Karachi-Rohri corridor is strategically significant because it handles a substantial volume of both passenger and freight traffic. Its modernisation is therefore expected to provide an immediate improvement to the efficiency of the national railway network while creating a foundation for upgrades on the remaining sections. Government optimistic about launch Federal Minister for Railways Hanif Abbasi has expressed optimism that the flagship project could finally enter the implementation phase during the current year. The minister said progress on ML-1 had improved and that the government was working to ensure that the remaining requirements were completed within the agreed timelines. He said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif was closely monitoring the project and had directed the relevant authorities to ensure its completion according to schedule. According to the minister, ML-1 represents the foundation of Pakistan Railways’ long-term modernisation strategy. He said upgrading the railway corridor would help increase train speeds, improve passenger services and enhance the overall operational efficiency of the rail network. The minister also stressed that transparency, merit and competitive procedures would be followed during the project. He added that recommendations from international experts, market participants and technical consultants would be considered while finalising the implementation strategy. 1,726-km railway corridor The ML-1 project covers the modernisation of the 1,726-kilometre Karachi-Peshawar railway corridor, which serves as the backbone of Pakistan’s railway system. Under the rationalised plan, the corridor has been divided into five major sections:  Karachi-Rohri  Rohri-Multan Multan-Lahore Lahore-Rawalpindi Rawalpindi-Peshawar The government has estimated the total cost of the rationalised ML-1 project at approximately $6.66 billion. The scheme is intended to transform the existing railway infrastructure by improving track quality, signalling systems, operational capacity and train speeds. Higher speeds and improved capacity Earlier official plans for ML-1 envisaged allowing passenger trains to operate at speeds of up to 160 kilometres per hour on upgraded portions of the corridor. The project also includes improvements in axle-load capacity, rehabilitation and strengthening of railway tracks, modern signalling and communications systems, as well as doubling of single-track sections wherever necessary. These improvements are expected to reduce journey times and increase the number of trains that can operate on the corridor. For Pakistan Railways, the project is also viewed as an opportunity to strengthen freight operations and improve the movement of goods between the country’s major commercial centres and ports. Financing remains crucial Despite the renewed momentum, financing remains one of the most important requirements for taking ML-1 into full-scale construction. The government has been working with international development partners to secure funding for different components of the project, while the completion of technical studies, project documentation and financial arrangements remains essential before construction can begin. The ADB-backed Karachi-Rohri section is expected to serve as the starting point for the wider modernisation programme. Officials have previously indicated that preparatory work for the section could begin in 2026, provided the remaining financial and documentation requirements are completed. A long-awaited railway overhaul ML-1 has been discussed for years as a transformative project for Pakistan’s railway sector, but its implementation has repeatedly been delayed because of the scale of investment involved and disagreements over financing and project structure. The government’s decision to set a firm deadline for completing the review phase and hold another round of market consultations signals an effort to bring the project back on track. Regular monitoring by Pakistan Railways, engagement with international consultants and consultation with potential stakeholders are now expected to play a central role in finalising the project. If the remaining technical and financial hurdles are addressed according to the new schedule, the Karachi-Rohri section could become the first major construction phase of the broader ML-1 programme. The government believes that successful implementation of ML-1 would not only modernise the country’s ageing railway infrastructure but also improve passenger connectivity, strengthen freight transportation, reduce travel times and enhance the competitiveness of Pakistan Railways.

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has defended the Capital Development Authority (CDA) chairman and Islamabad Inspector General of Police (IGP) after a video of the two officials arriving at an Independence Day event in a horse-drawn carriage triggered criticism on social media. CDA Chairman retired Lt Sohail Ashraf and Islamabad IGP Syed Ali Nasir Rizvi were seen arriving at the parade in the carriage. The video showed event organisers asking the audience to applaud as the officials arrived, but little response could be heard from the crowd. The footage quickly spread online, with several social media users describing the scene as outdated and comparing it with practices associated with the colonial era. Naqvi later issued a clarification, saying the officials should not be blamed for using the carriage. According to the interior minister, the chief guest and he were delayed because of a meeting between the president and prime minister. He said people had been waiting at the venue since 5pm. When it became clear that the senior officials would arrive late, instructions were given to start the programme so that citizens would not have to wait any longer. Naqvi explained that the horse carriage had originally been arranged for the chief guest. However, due to the delay, it was used by the CDA chairman and Islamabad police chief to proceed with the programme. The minister also said both officers had initially been reluctant to begin the event in the absence of the chief guest and himself. He maintained that they proceeded only after receiving specific instructions. Despite the explanation, criticism continued online. Former federal minister Shireen Mazari shared the video and questioned the decision, while digital rights activist Usama Khilji criticised what he described as behaviour inappropriate for senior government officials. Several journalists and public figures also reacted strongly to the footage. Journalist Farzana Ali questioned the appropriateness of such a display at a time when ordinary citizens are facing economic difficulties. Journalist Zarrar Khuhro described the scene as embarrassing, while researcher Ammar Rashid criticised what he viewed as the growing distance between government officials and the public. Former Pemra chairman Absar Alam also condemned the incident, calling it an example of an outdated bureaucratic mindset. Former Sindh governor Mohammad Zubair drew a comparison with the recent visit of Norway’s foreign minister to Islamabad. He highlighted footage showing the foreign minister handling his own luggage at the airport and contrasted it with the behaviour shown in the Islamabad parade video

Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) has announced a sit-in outside the Governor House in Sindh today against the government’s decision not to reduce the petroleum levy. The party has also prepared a 15-day schedule for the protest campaign. JI chief Hafiz Naeemur Rehman said an increase in petroleum product prices leads to higher costs across the country and puts additional pressure on ordinary citizens. He criticised what he described as an unequal tax system, saying the country’s elite class was not paying its fair share of taxes while poor people continued to struggle with rising expenses. Naeemur Rehman also alleged that privileged groups enjoyed various benefits without paying their due share, while taxes were not being properly collected from the incomes of owners of independent power producers (IPPs). Meanwhile, JI Karachi chief Munim Zafar said the government had already collected around Rs100 billion more than its targeted revenue from the petroleum levy. He accused the government of turning the petroleum levy into a major source of revenue after failing to achieve its broader tax collection targets. The JI has also announced a protest sit-in in Lahore against the petroleum levy. The demonstration will be held at Charing Cross on The Mall. The party has been demanding a reduction in the petroleum levy, arguing that lower fuel-related charges could help ease inflationary pressure on households and businesses. JI leaders said their protests would continue until the government addressed their concerns and provided relief to citizens facing rising living costs.