Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif has directed the authorities concerned to expedite work on up-gradation of Main Line-1 (ML-1) project.  

He issued these directives while chairing a meeting regarding reforms in Pakistan Railways and Up-gradation of ML-1 project in Islamabad today.

The Prime Minister further directed to introduce corporate-style reforms in Pakistan Railways.

He commended the efforts of the teams from NAB and the Ministry of Railways, led by the Chairman NAB, regarding the identification and recovery of encroached lands of Pakistan Railways. 

The Prime Minister said modernization of ML-1 project is of key importance for the development of Pakistan Railways, providing better travel facilities to passengers, and the expansion of freight transport.

He instructed that the execution of ML-1 project should be carried out on commercial basis by utilizing the identified railway land worth billions of rupees.

Shehbaz Sharif said there is a need to tap the true commercial potential inherent in railway properties.

He emphasized that valuable railway land should be effectively utilized for commercial purposes to contribute to the national economy and the development of the railway sector.

The Prime Minister expressed the resolve that introducing corporate style reforms to strengthen Pakistan Railways and making it financially self-reliant are among the priorities of the government.

He said the Minister for Railways is working diligently to make the Pakistan Railways a profitable entity and improve its operations.

Shehbaz Sharif approved the utilization of railway land to secure bank funding for the construction of ML-1 project through various commercial projects.

He directed the authorities concerned to present a comprehensive plan within two weeks, taking into account the true commercial potential of the railway land.

The meeting was briefed that one thousand seven hundred twenty-six kilometers long ML-1 up-gradation has been divided into four major sections, which are Karachi-Rohri, Rohri-Multan, Multan-Lahore and Lahore-Peshawar.

It was informed that international financing is being utilized for the up-gradation of the Karachi-Rohri Section, while plans are being chalked out for financing the other sections of ML-1 through domestic resources.

The meeting was also informed on various stages of construction of the ML-1 project, progress on Karachi-Rohri Section and matters related to Pakistan Railways-owned land.

The meeting was attended by Federal Ministers Ahsan Iqbal, Ahad Khan Cheema, Muhammad Aurangzeb, Hanif Abbasi, Minister of State Bilal Azhar Kayani, Governor State Bank Jameel Ahmad, Chairman NAB Lieutenant General (Retd) Nazir Ahmad Butt and other relevant senior authorities.