Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has once again raised the long-pending ML-1 project, calling for its early groundbreaking during a meeting with a senior Asian Development Bank (ADB) official in Islamabad on Friday. The ML-1 project, which will upgrade Pakistan Railways’ Karachi-to-Peshawar main line, has been described by the government as a top national infrastructure priority.
The meeting focused mainly on financing and timelines for the ML-1 project, along with Pakistan’s wider development partnership with the ADB. Officials say the corridor is central to improving freight movement and regional trade links across the country.
Background of the ML-1 Project
The ML-1 project is not a new idea. It has been discussed for close to a decade as part of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), and it remains the single largest scheme under that programme. The plan is to upgrade and double-track the historic railway line that British engineers first built more than a century ago.
Over the years, the ML-1 project has gone through several cost revisions. Early estimates put the project at more than 9 billion dollars, but repeated delays, financing gaps, and design changes brought the figure down. At different points, the cost has been quoted anywhere between roughly 6.6 billion and 7.2 billion dollars, depending on scope and the packages included.
The full ML-1 railway map stretches for around 1,700 to 1,870 kilometres, connecting Karachi with Peshawar through Hyderabad, Rohri, Multan, Lahore, and Rawalpindi. A separate branch line also links Taxila to Havelian, where a dry port is planned. This corridor already carries the bulk of Pakistan Railways’ passenger and freight traffic, so any upgrade here has an outsized effect on the network as a whole.
Because of its size, the ML-1 project has repeatedly been split into phases to make financing easier. The most talked-about starting point in recent months has been the Karachi-to-Rohri stretch, an elevated section of roughly 480 kilometres that officials have called a realistic “starter” package for the wider scheme.
Details: What Happened in the Latest Meeting
On Friday, PM Shehbaz Sharif hosted ADB Vice President for South, Central, and West Asia, Yingming Yang, during a breakfast meeting in Islamabad. According to a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office, the discussion centred on the modernisation of the ML-1 project and the need to begin construction without further delay.
The Prime Minister told the ADB delegation that upgrading this railway corridor was essential for modernising freight logistics and strengthening regional trade connectivity. He also linked the ML-1 project to Pakistan’s broader industrial goals, arguing that faster, more reliable rail freight would support factories and export industries along the route.
Official Statements on the ML-1 Project
The Prime Minister’s Office described the ML-1 project as a “vital national infrastructure priority” in its statement following the meeting. It also said the two sides discussed the need for early groundbreaking, calling it central to both infrastructure development and improved connectivity across the country.
PM Shehbaz separately praised the ADB’s role in Pakistan’s transport and public service sector, noting the bank’s consistent involvement in transformative infrastructure projects over several decades. He also pointed to recent credit rating upgrades from agencies such as Fitch, Moody’s, and S&P as evidence that Pakistan’s broader economic reform programme is gaining traction, which officials argue strengthens the case for financing large schemes like the ML-1 project.On the ADB side, officials have previously said the bank remains committed to leading the consortium of lenders supporting the railway’s financing, and that the scheme would play a transformative role in upgrading the country’s rail network over the long term.
Impact of the ML-1 Project
A modernised ML-1 project would touch far more than just train schedules. Pakistan Railways currently handles a small share of the country’s freight, with most goods moving by road. Faster, higher-capacity rail freight along this corridor could shift a meaningful portion of that traffic onto trains, easing pressure on highways and cutting logistics costs for industry.
Regionally, the ML-1 project is also tied to Pakistan’s ambitions as a trade corridor linking China, Central Asia, and the Arabian Sea ports. A functioning, upgraded main line supports that role by making it easier to move containers and bulk goods across the country efficiently.There is also a jobs angle. Earlier project documents estimated that construction work under the ML-1 project could create tens of thousands of direct jobs, plus many more indirect ones tied to construction, materials supply, and station upgrades along the route.
Conclusion and What Comes Next
For now, the ML-1 project remains at the discussion stage rather than the construction stage, despite years of planning. Friday’s meeting adds to a pattern seen through 2026, where officials have repeatedly said groundbreaking is close, particularly for the Karachi-Rohri starter section, while formal financing agreements are still being finalised with the ADB and other lenders.
The coming months are likely to be important. With the PC-1 documentation process underway and the ADB’s new five-year partnership strategy already in motion, Pakistani officials are hoping this latest high-level engagement translates into a firm financing agreement and, finally, a groundbreaking date for at least the first phase of the ML-1 project. Readers should expect further updates as the Ministry of Railways and the ADB move toward finalising terms.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the latest update on the ML-1 project today?
As of September 2026, the ML-1 project is still in the pre-construction phase, though momentum appears to be building. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met ADB Vice President Yingming Yang in Islamabad and specifically raised the need for early groundbreaking of the Karachi-Peshawar railway line. The meeting also touched on Pakistan’s wider Country Partnership Strategy with the ADB for 2026-2030. No firm groundbreaking date has been announced yet, but officials have previously indicated they want work on the first phase, covering the Karachi-Rohri section, to begin as soon as financing documentation is finalised.
What is the ML-2 railway project?
The ML-2 railway project, also known as the Kotri-Attock line, is a separate main railway line operated by Pakistan Railways, distinct from the ML-1 corridor discussed in the latest meeting. It runs for roughly 1,246 kilometres between Kotri Junction in Sindh and Attock City Junction in Punjab, passing through around 92 stations. Unlike the newer, high-speed ambitions of the ML-1 project, ML-2 currently operates at much lower speeds, generally between 30 and 70 kilometres per hour. Under CPEC’s medium-term plans, ML-2 has also been proposed for upgrading and possible extension toward Gwadar, though that work has moved far more slowly than the ML-1 project.
Which country is No. 1 in Railways?
The United States operates the largest railway network in the world by total track length, with estimates generally placing it well above 200,000 kilometres, most of which is used for freight rather than passenger travel. China holds the second-largest overall network but leads the world in high-speed rail, with tens of thousands of kilometres of dedicated high-speed track. India ranks among the largest networks as well and carries one of the highest passenger volumes globally. Pakistan’s own network, including lines like ML-1 and ML-2, is far smaller by comparison, which is part of why projects like the ML-1 project are considered so significant for the country’s transport capacity.
