Islamabad: The Senate Standing Committee on Pakistan Railways was informed on Thursday that the feasibility study for the Gwadar Railway project, conducted by an international firm, has been successfully completed. Officials from the Ministry of Railways told the panel that the ambitious project is now ready to be presented to the board for final approval, marking a crucial step in moving the initiative forward. The committee, chaired by Jam Saifullah Khan, reviewed key aspects of railway development, operational reforms, and strategic policy matters.
The federal government is exploring multiple options for completing the railway, including potential partnerships with mining companies, as the line is planned to pass through Balochistan’s mineral-rich regions and link them directly with Gwadar port. The project aims to strengthen regional connectivity and create alternate rail routes to Turkey and Russia via Iran, while easing congestion at Karachi Port.
Officials also shared updates on the Basima to Jacobabad railway section, for which a feasibility study has been completed with an estimated cost of USD 4.7 billion. Plans to connect Gwadar with the national railway network and Quetta were discussed in detail, including the Main-link Express, a 680-kilometre line from Gwadar to Nokundi, and Main Line-4 (ML-4), which will integrate Gwadar fully into Pakistan’s national rail system.
The committee was informed that a joint survey covering 282 acres for land acquisition has been completed, and the Nokundi-Rohri section will be financed through USD 590 million in bridge funding. The Rohri-Karachi section is expected to cost around USD 2 billion, with support from the Asian Development Bank. Committee members emphasized that improving existing railway infrastructure must go hand-in-hand with expansion projects.
Additionally, the panel discussed operational reforms, including the outsourcing of luggage van services, which combined with natural attrition, has reduced staff numbers and increased annual revenues by PKR 82 million. Land development at Gwadar Railway Container Yard was also reviewed, highlighting 498.33 acres acquired based on feasibility studies from 2005, later revalidated in 2019.
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