ADB aims to finalize ML-1 design within October

Mettis Global reported that the Asian Development Bank expects its technical team and project consultants to complete the design for the Main Line-1 (ML-1) railway during October. Once that design is settled, procurement and later stages would advance alongside the government.

Federal Minister for Economic Affairs Ahad Cheema met an ADB delegation to review progress on the project, focusing on timely design completion and other preparatory steps. Attendees included ADB Country Director Emma Fan, Railways Secretary Mazhar Ali Shah and Economic Affairs Secretary Muhammad Humair Karim. Cheema said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif gives the project high priority and wants implementation to begin as early as possible.

The government told the ADB team it is ready to meet its own requirements on time and will provide facilitation throughout. Cheema also asked for the implementation schedule to be reviewed for possible time savings, while fully observing the technical, legal and procedural conditions. ADB said it would stay engaged with the government and share requirements for later approvals, including consideration by the ADB Board, in good time.