Islamabad: Federal Minister for Economic Affairs Ahad Cheema directed Pakistan Railways to speed up documentation for the ML-1 Karachi-Rohri Section as the federal government seeks Asian Development Bank funding in the next fiscal year.
Cheema issued the directions while chairing a high-level meeting on the project’s implementation framework, according to the Ministry of Economic Affairs. Secretary Economic Affairs Muhammad Humair Karim and Secretary Railways Mazhar Ali Shah briefed the meeting on ongoing work and preparatory steps.
Asian Development Bank Country Director Emma Fan and senior ADB officials also joined the discussion. The ministry said Cheema directed the Ministry of Railways to coordinate closely with the ADB and the Economic Affairs Division to complete project documents without delay.
Cheema said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif wanted the groundbreaking ceremony for ML-1 held this year. He said the timely completion of documents and procedural requirements would help the federal government secure ADB funding.
Read: ML-1 Rail Project Finalised With ADB, Says Railways Minister
The minister also told Pakistan Railways to work with the Planning Division on the PC-1 and other mandatory requirements. He said the Karachi-Rohri section would serve as the starter phase of ML-1 and would move ahead “come what may.”
ADB earlier signed a USD 10 million Project Readiness Financing arrangement for the Karachi-Rohri Section of Main Line-I, according to the Economic Affairs Division. The project forms part of wider connectivity financing agreed between Pakistan and the bank.
Emma Fan appreciated the work of the Economic Affairs Division and the Ministry of Railways. She said ADB would support documentation, hire the PRF consultant on time and work to reduce the project review timeline.
