Pakistan Railways aims to begin modernising a 480 km section of the Main Line-1, one of the country’s most important railway corridors, in January 2027. This section accounts for 76 per cent of passenger traffic and 98 per cent of rail freight, and once the works are complete, trains are expected to be able to travel at speeds of up to 160 km/h.
Pakistan is preparing to launch the first phase of the extensive modernisation project for Main Line-1 (ML-1), the country’s main railway line, following several years of delays.
The first phase will cover the Karachi–Rohri/Sukkur section, approximately 480 km long, and the authorities want work to begin by January 2027 at the latest.
The project is estimated to cost USD 2.5 billion, equivalent to approximately EUR 2.16 billion.
“We are doing everything we can to launch the project as soon as possible. The Prime Minister wants work to begin in January next year at all costs,” said Pakistan’s Minister for Railways, Hanif Abbasi.
A corridor carrying almost all of Pakistan’s rail freight
The importance of the Karachi–Rohri section to the Pakistani rail network cannot be overstated.
The corridor accounts for approximately 76 per cent of Pakistan Railways’ passenger traffic and 98 per cent of rail freight.
At the same time, it is one of the areas with the most serious problems in the existing infrastructure.
An official from Pakistan Railways explained that the Karachi–Rohri and Rohri–Multan sections are among the most critical on the network, with numerous derailments and accidents occurring here due to the poor condition of the track.
The infrastructure currently requires repeated, costly repairs, which is why the Karachi–Rohri section has been selected for the first phase of the ML-1 modernisation.
New lines and speeds of up to 160 km/h
The project involves extensive works on the Keamari–Landhi–Hyderabad, Hyderabad–Nawabshah and Nawabshah–Rohri sections.
The tracks for both directions of travel will be rebuilt and some local realignments of the route will be carried out.
The works also include bridges, footbridges and other structures, the modernisation of stations and freight terminals, as well as work on railway buildings.
Safety fencing will be installed on both sides of the track to prevent unauthorised access by people, animals and vehicles to the railway infrastructure.
Following modernisation, the infrastructure should enable trains to reach speeds of up to 160 km/h.
The works themselves are estimated to take between two and a half and three years.
Signalling and telecommunications will be modernised
The investment is not limited to the track.
The project includes the modernisation of the signalling and telecommunications systems along the entire corridor, as well as works at Walton Academy, the Pakistan Railways training centre.
Services for the management, design, monitoring and supervision of the works will be contracted separately.
The authorities also intend to introduce digital solutions and climate-resilient technologies, and a major challenge will be carrying out the works whilst rail traffic continues on one of the country’s busiest main lines.
International funding for the project
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is the international financial institution set to support the project.
Pakistan is also exploring the possibility of securing co-financing from the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), the World Bank and the Islamic Development Bank.
However, before construction can begin, the procurement stages must be completed, including market consultation, international tendering, the selection of contractors and consultants, and the awarding of contracts.
The authorities estimate that these procedures could take approximately four to five months.
International contractors invited to consultations in September
Pakistan Railways has scheduled a new online market consultation session for 8 September, aimed at local and international contractors, as well as design and consultancy firms.
Discussions will focus on the size of the lots, qualification criteria, the possibility of forming consortia, experience requirements, and the organisation of signalling and telecommunications works.
Risk allocation, the involvement of local industry and how the construction site can proceed without disrupting rail traffic will also be examined.
Syed Mazhar Ali Shah, Chairman of the Railway Board, has called for the project review to be completed by 30 October 2026, with progress to be monitored on a weekly basis.
Minister Hanif Abbasi regards the modernisation of the ML-1 as the cornerstone of the transformation of Pakistan Railways. If the current timetable is adhered to, work on the first 480 km section could begin in January 2027, paving the way for one of the most significant modernisations of the Pakistani rail network in recent decades.
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