Pakistan Railways to begin ML-1 project this year, Rs25 billion allocated, Senate panel told

Pakistan Railways plans to start work on the Main Line-1 (ML-1) project this year, according to Profit by Pakistan Today, after the Senate Standing Committee on Railways was briefed on Monday. Of the Rs40 billion handed to the department, the Railway Board secretary said Rs25 billion has been set aside for it, with completion aimed within three years. If achieved, this would be the first time work on the scheme has commenced in the department's history.

Funding remains the core obstacle, since the department requested Rs180 billion from the federal government in the previous fiscal year and got only Rs40 billion. Officials said projects are now being ranked against the money on hand. Rs307.993 million has been earmarked for rehabilitating the Kotri-Akhandabad track in FY2026-27, and Rs2.778 billion for urgent safety work on the Rohri-Khanpur section.

Progress on the Khanewal-Shorkot line via Faisalabad is only 10%, which officials blamed on inadequate funding, and just Rs180 million has been allocated. Mahreen Razzaq Bhutto, a committee member, warned that dozens of trains are being derailed nationwide because tracks are deteriorating. The convener added that better outcomes could come from in-house funding should the Railway Board gain more powers.