Key Takeaways
- 134 participants attended the consultation for the Karachi-Rohri section of ML-1.
- The project is a priority initiative of the federal government, aimed at modernizing railway infrastructure.
- Civil work on the first phase is expected to begin in January 2027.
Pakistan Railways, with support from the Asian Development Bank (ADB), completed the second pre-market consultation for the Karachi-Rohri section of the Main Line-1 (ML-1) upgradation project on Tuesday. The consultation, which drew 134 participants, included national and international contractors, consultants, equipment suppliers, and manufacturers.
The consultation aimed to gather views and suggestions on various aspects of the project, with the feedback expected to shape the procurement strategy and strengthen the project preparation process.
According to a Pakistan Railways spokesperson, the strong participation and constructive exchange of views contributed to an effective and productive consultation process. The PR expects continued engagement with the market to promote a competitive and transparent procurement process that benefits all stakeholders.
The first phase of the ML-1 project, covering the 480 km Karachi-Rohri/Sukkur section, is expected to begin civil work in January 2027. This phase will involve laying new up and down tracks and fencing on both sides to prevent unauthorized access.
The project, estimated to cost $2.5 billion, is expected to take two to three years to complete and will serve a corridor carrying 76% of passenger and 98% of freight traffic. It will connect major population centres and industrial zones.
The project is expected to be financed by the ADB, with co-financing being explored from AIIB, EIN, the World Bank, and IsDB. The indicative scope includes civil and track works on the Keamari-Landhi-Hyderabad, Hyderabad-Nawabshah, and Nawabshah-Rohri sections, along with track reconstruction, limited realignments, bridges, culverts, and other structures.
The plan also includes upgrading Walton Academy, signalling and telecommunications across the corridor, project management and supervision consultancy services.
The project is a priority initiative of the federal government, with preparations being expedited under Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to modernize the country’s railway infrastructure and improve the safety, efficiency, and reliability of rail services.
The PR expects continued engagement with the market to help promote a competitive and transparent procurement process that benefits the government, development partners, industry stakeholders and, ultimately, the public.
Pakistan Railways spokesperson, Spokesperson
