Karachi-Rohri track rehabilitation may commence this year
The Senate Standing Committee on Railways was briefed on upcoming, ongoing, and pending railway projects, as well as the major challenges currently facing the Ministry of Railways.
The meeting, chaired by Senator Jam Saifullah Khan, was informed that a total of 38 projects worth Rs 260.085 billion were undertaken during the fiscal year 2024-25. Of these, six projects have been completed, while 32 have been carried forward to 2025-26.
While briefing the committee, the Chairman of Railways described the Main Line-1 (ML-1) project — spanning from Karachi to Rohri — as a "lifeline" for the Reko Diq and Thar coal projects, which are expected to commence this year, subject to the availability of funds.
He noted that the total estimated cost of ML-1 stands at Rs2,298.18 billion, and a proposal has been submitted for the allocation of Rs75 billion in the financial year 202526 to initiate the project.
The committee was further informed that 12 additional projects — covering track expansion, safety enhancements, rehabilitation, track replacement, feasibility studies, and upgraded security systems — require an allocation of Rs11.076 billion in the next fiscal year.
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