Islamabad: A delegation of the Asian Development Bank (ADB), led by Director General Leah Gutierrez, on Friday met Federal Minister for Railways Muhammad Hanif Abbasi to review progress on the upgradation of Main Line-I (ML-I), Pakistan Railways’ most critical infrastructure project.
During the meeting, both sides held detailed discussions on the scope, financing and implementation strategy of the ML-I upgradation, according to an official statement. The project aims to modernise Pakistan’s primary railway corridor to ensure safer, more efficient and reliable rail operations.
Officials briefed the meeting that ML-I serves as the backbone of Pakistan Railways, carrying nearly 80% of the country’s passenger traffic and around 90% of freight movement. Given the current condition of railway infrastructure, participants stressed the urgent need to upgrade the line to meet growing transport and logistics demands.
The project is expected to significantly improve national connectivity, reduce travel time and strengthen Pakistan’s logistics and trade capacity.
Minister Abbasi described ML-I as a key project for the national economy, stating that its modernisation would play a vital role in promoting economic growth, improving regional connectivity and supporting sustainable transport.
The ADB delegation reaffirmed its continued cooperation and confidence in the project’s progress, and reiterated its commitment to supporting Pakistan Railways’ reform and modernisation efforts.
Both sides also agreed that the ground-breaking ceremony for the ML-I Karachi–Rohri section will be held in July 2026, marking a major milestone in the execution of the long-awaited project.
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