The federal government officially disclosed that the Main Line-1 railway modernization project has exited the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor framework. Economic Affairs Secretary Hameer Karim revealed the major strategic shift during a high-level Senate Standing Committee on Economic Affairs meeting. The massive transport initiative, originally carrying a seventy-seven billion dollar price tag under CPEC, will now secure necessary financing from the Asian Development Bank and other multilateral international financial institutions.
The ambitious project serves as Pakistan’s largest rail network upgrade, aiming to comprehensively modernize the main transit track spanning from Karachi to Peshawar. The primary upgrades focus on replacing aging tracks, deploying high-tech signaling systems, accelerating passenger train speeds, and expanding regional freight capacity. Despite long holding flagship status within the CPEC portfolio, the venture suffered repeated execution delays due to intense financing disputes and prolonged cost negotiations with Chinese authorities.
Consequently, the Senate committee demanded a revised, comprehensive financing plan while sharply questioning the Economic Affairs Division regarding its handling of legal disputes in foreign-funded initiatives. Simultaneously, the National Assembly Standing Committee on Railways ordered Pakistan Railways to submit detailed documentation on widespread land encroachments. Lawmakers also sought immediate progress updates regarding both the ML-1 track and the Pipri Marshalling Yard revival frameworks.
Furthermore, parliamentarians reviewed recent domestic rail safety failures, including the severe Shalimar Express collision near Lakha Road Station and the unexpected Tezgam derailment on the Lodhran-Bahawalpur section. Railways Ministry officials briefed lawmakers on current departmental inquiries and subsequent disciplinary actions against negligent staff. The panel directed the ministry to present a complete execution report on structural reforms at the next scheduled parliamentary session.
