Islamabad: The Central Development Working Party (CDWP) has approved two key projects worth PKR 16.26 billion under the Main Line-1 (ML-1) railway initiative, marking a major step forward in the modernization of Pakistan’s rail network.
The approval, granted following the endorsement of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, includes the preliminary design and drawings for ML-1 and the Havelian Dry Port. The projects will now be referred to the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) for final clearance.
The updated ML-1 plan involves the participation of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) in cost-sharing, following China’s consent to include multilateral lenders. Earlier, Beijing had declined to involve additional financiers in the project.
Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal, who chaired the meeting, said the ML-1 initiative represents “Pakistan’s leap into the 21st century,” adding that the country must adopt modern technology to remain competitive in global transport infrastructure. He urged Pakistan Railways to commercialize its land assets and implement a business plan to ensure long-term financial sustainability.
The CDWP also approved the detailed engineering design of the ML-1 Rohri–Khanpur–Multan section, costing PKR 3.21 billion, through ADB financing.
In total, the CDWP cleared 18 projects across multiple sectors, with 12 projects worth PKR 35.4 billion approved at the departmental level and six major projects worth PKR 280.2 billion recommended to ECNEC for review.
Other notable approvals included the Punjab Resilient and Inclusive Agriculture Transformation Project (PRIAT), worth PKR 68.67 billion, financed by the World Bank and the Government of Punjab, to promote climate-smart and community-driven agriculture.
The Punjab Resource Improvement and Digital Effectiveness (PRIDE) Programme, worth PKR 3.08 billion, was also approved to strengthen digital governance and public financial management. Additionally, a PKR 52.19 billion wastewater treatment plant at Babu Sabu, Lahore, was sanctioned to improve environmental sustainability through advanced biogas and solar integration systems.
Three small hydropower projects in Azad Jammu and Kashmir, along with critical irrigation initiatives in Kachhi Canal and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, were also given the green light, reflecting the government’s focus on energy, water, and climate resilience under the “Uraan Pakistan” framework.
The meeting was attended by Secretary Planning Awais Manzur Sumra, Chief Economist, the Vice Chancellor of PIDE, and representatives from federal and provincial departments.
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