Latest news with #ML-1
Express Tribune
5 days ago
- Business
- Express Tribune
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.
Business Recorder
6 days ago
- Business
- Business Recorder
Karachi handles 99pc of country's cargo through roads: Call to shift road freight to railways
KARACHI: Divisional Superintendent Pakistan Railways Mehmood ur Rehman Lakho has said that Karachi handles 99 percent of Pakistan's cargo that needs to be diverted from roads to railways otherwise the city will continue to face deterioration in its road infrastructure caused by the movement of outbound heavy vehicles using the roads of Karachi to reach their destinations in the upcountry. Exchanging views at a meeting during his visit to the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), Mehmood ur Rehman added that the purpose for his visit to the largest Chamber of country was to explore ways and means for reviving and strengthening rail freight connectivity from Karachi to major industrial and commercial hubs of Pakistan. 'Shifting to rail freight is not only economically beneficial but also environmentally responsible, as rail transport is three times more fuel-efficient than road freight, which in turn reduces carbon emissions, saves foreign exchange on fuel imports, and eases the burden on highways,' he added. Senior Vice President Zia ul Arfeen, Vice President Faisal Khalil Ahmed, Deputy Division Superintendent Operational PR Hamid Farooq Qureshi, Deputy Divisional Superintendent Rolling Stock PR M Ferhan Awan along with other senior PR Officials and KCCI Managing Committee members attended the meeting. Divisional Superintendent PR highlighted that Pakistan Railways has taken significant steps to modernize its freight operations over the past decade. Between 2013 and 2015, more than 1,400 new hopper wagons, over 2,000 high-capacity flat wagons, and 55 modern locomotives were inducted into the fleet. These wagons have dramatically increased the payload capacity from an average of 20 tons to 60 tons per wagon, allowing each train to carry over 4,000 tons of cargo. The Divisional Engineer expressed concern over the delayed implementation of the Main Line-1 (ML-1) project under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), which was initially envisioned to be a game-changer for the country's rail infrastructure. He said that without ML-1, Pakistan Railways remains constrained in its capacity to deliver long-haul, high-speed cargo services across Karachi, Sukkur, Multan, and onward to the northern zones. He also informed the gathering that Pakistan Railways is working on ambitious plans to revive international rail freight services connecting Karachi to Moscow via Iran, Turkmenistan, and Kazakhstan — a corridor that would unlock new export markets for Pakistani goods, especially textiles and industrial products. Mehmood Lakho further shared that Pakistan Railways is now exploring modern logistics models such as multimodal freight movement, dedicated industrial cargo trains for Karachi's export-oriented sectors, and the potential introduction of Roll-on/Roll-off (RoRo) wagons where loaded trucks can be directly transported via train to their destinations, thus bypassing congested highways and reducing fuel and maintenance costs. He added that the department is ready to work closely with KCCI and its members to identify freight priorities and launch pilot routes connecting Karachi with Lahore, Faisalabad, Multan, Rawalpindi, and Peshawar. Chairman Businessmen Group (BMG) Zubair Motiwala, while appreciating the visit of the railway officials, described it as a much-needed effort to bridge the gap between Pakistan Railways and the business community. He stated that Pakistan Railways had historically been the backbone of trade and industrial logistics in the country, but due to neglect, mismanagement, and rising reliance on road transport, the railways had lost its significance. 'As a result, logistics costs have increased dramatically, roads have deteriorated due to overuse, and the entire supply chain has become more vulnerable to disruptions such as fuel shortages, political protests, and highway closures.' Motiwala emphasized that a strong and reliable freight rail network would bring enormous benefits to Karachi's industries, which are currently suffering from slow inland movement of raw materials and finished goods. He stated that freight trains are not only cost-effective and timely, but also safer, more secure, and more resilient to external shocks compared to road transport. Karachi's roads, he noted, are severely congested with heavy trucks passing through densely populated areas, creating traffic bottlenecks, pollution, and road damage. Rehabilitating and expanding railway cargo services would drastically reduce the burden on urban infrastructure and improve the efficiency of trade logistics, he added. Speaking on the occasion, President KCCI Jawed Bilwani underscored the urgent need to revive rail cargo operations as a strategic imperative for Pakistan's economy. He said that Karachi, being the industrial and commercial capital of Pakistan, lacks the road infrastructure to shoulder the logistics burden of the entire country. With hundreds of thousands of trucks entering and exiting the city daily, the road network has deteriorated beyond repair, and the city frequently experiences supply chain paralysis due to traffic jams, strikes, and fuel-related disruptions. He noted that countries that maintain low logistics costs, particularly through rail, achieve greater industrial growth and better export competitiveness. He strongly advocated for launching dedicated cargo trains to and from Karachi's industrial zones, which are home to the nation's leading exporters. He stressed that Pakistan Railways must explore operational models that include the introduction of Roll-on/Roll-off wagons to transport entire trucks by train, the revival of the Karachi Circular Railway (KCR) not only for passengers but also for freight, and the rationalization of excessive and unaffordable charges imposed on industrial rail crossings and private sidings. Bilwani proposed the formation of a joint working committee between KCCI and Pakistan Railways to develop and oversee freight service pilots, align schedules with port timings, resolve customs clearance challenges at dry ports, and ensure sustained engagement between public and private stakeholders. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Express Tribune
6 days ago
- Business
- Express Tribune
Shift cargo from roads to rail: railway official
Listen to article Divisional Superintendent of Pakistan Railways (PR), Mehmoodur Rehman Lakho, has said that 99% of Pakistan's cargo moves through Karachi, warning that unless freight is shifted from roads to rail, the city's road infrastructure will continue to deteriorate under the strain of heavy outbound vehicles. Speaking at a meeting during his visit to the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), Lakho said the purpose of his visit was to explore ways to revive and strengthen rail freight connectivity from Karachi to Pakistan's major industrial and commercial centres. "Shifting to rail freight is not only economically beneficial but also environmentally responsible," he said. "Rail transport is three times more fuel-efficient than road freight, helping reduce carbon emissions, conserve foreign exchange, and ease pressure on highways." He highlighted the strides Pakistan Railways has made in modernising its freight operations over the past decade. Between 2013 and 2015, the department added more than 1,400 hopper wagons, over 2,000 high-capacity flat wagons, and 55 modern locomotives. These upgrades increased payload capacity from an average of 20 tonnes to 60 tonnes per wagon, enabling each train to transport over 4,000 tonnes of cargo. However, Lakho expressed concern over the delayed implementation of the Main Line-1 (ML-1) project under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), calling it critical to expanding the country's rail cargo network. Without ML-1, he said, Pakistan Railways remains limited in its capacity to deliver long-haul, high-speed cargo services across Karachi, Sukkur, Multan towards the northern regions. He also shared plans to revive international rail freight links from Karachi to Moscow via Iran, Turkmenistan, and Kazakhstan. This corridor, he said, could unlock new export markets, especially for textiles and industrial products. Lakho said Pakistan Railways is exploring modern logistics solutions such as multimodal freight, dedicated industrial cargo trains for export sectors, and Roll-on/Roll-off (RoRo) wagons that can carry entire loaded trucks by trainbypassing congested highways and reducing costs. He expressed willingness to collaborate with KCCI to identify freight priorities and launch pilot routes connecting Karachi with Lahore, Faisalabad, Multan, Rawalpindi, and Peshawar. Chairman of the Businessmen Group (BMG), Zubair Motiwala, welcomed the initiative, describing it as a long-overdue effort to rebuild the historic partnership between the business community and Pakistan Railways, which had been eroded by years of neglect and overreliance on road transport.
Express Tribune
23-04-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
Meters removing issue to be raised with PM
The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) was told on Tuesday that MNA Sanaullah Mastikhel, a PAC member, had forgiven the people responsible for removing electricity meters from his and some of his relatives' residences. However, the matter will be raised with the prime minister. The PAC on Tuesday met under the chairmanship of MNA Junaid Akbar to review audit paras of the PR. During the meeting, the committee also discussed the issue of removal of electricity meters. The energy secretary said officials responsible for this had tendered an apology. He said he had briefed the committee on the issue and now it was up to the PAC as to how it wanted to tackle the issue. Speaking during the committee session, Mastikhel said that following his inquiries a day earlier, electricity meters were removed from his and relatives' residences. He alleged that unidentified individuals in white vehicles disconnected power supply and issued threats of demolishing properties belonging to his family. During the Tuesday meeting, it came to the committee's notice that a piece of land that the Pakistan Railways had leased to Al-Shifa Trust Eye Hospital in Sukkur at the rate of Rs1 per square yard had been sublet for commercial use. It transpired that a marriage hall and mobile phone towers have also been established on the land meant for welfare purposes, causing a loss of Rs450 million to the railways. The Railways secretary said ML-1 project which is part of the CPEC is of strategic nature. To a question with regard to the speed of trains on the ML-1, he said the upgraded design allows for a speed of 160 kilometers per hour.
Express Tribune
05-02-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
Chinese team to finalise ML-1 financial plan
ISLAMABAD/LAHORE: The National Assembly Standing Committee on Railways was informed on Tuesday a delegation of Chinese experts would visit Pakistan in late February and the financial plan of the Main Line (ML-1) project would be finalised. Then, the work on this project would be started immediately after bidding. The Secretary, Ministry of Railways, provided details on the proposed 1,726-kilometer railway line from Peshawar to Karachi, with a total cost estimated at $6.8 billion. Currently, 34 trains operate on the route, and once ML-1 is complete, 120 trains are expected to run. The project will be implemented in two phases – phase one from Karachi to Multan and phase two from Multan to Peshawar – with a Chinese delegation scheduled to visit Pakistan by the end of February. Additionally, the secretary noted that the railways have 83 rest houses, of which 10 are out of order. According to committee chairman Rai Hassan Nawaz Khan, rest houses in Lahore are used by officers from Karachi, and those staying at these facilities often pay out of their own pockets. Committee member Syed Wasim Hussain stressed that questions should be raised only during the agenda, saying, "There is no benefit in questioning after the agenda has ended". He further added that the agenda should include points from all committee members, noting that "having two or three points from a single individual on the agenda is excessive". Meanwhile, the secretary announced that "13 trains have been outsourced," a decision that has improved service quality, with revenue from outsourced trains rising from Rs7 billion to Rs11 billion. "Until the payment for seven days is made, we do not run the train." Fairs An increase in the prices of petroleum products has hit train passengers hard as Pakistan Railways has once again raised passenger train fares by 5%. According to a notification issued by the rail authorities, the fare hike will take effect from February 5. The increase applies across all ticket classes, as well as to salon services and extends to all outsourced trains. The notification has also been sent to all operational chiefs (divisional superintendents) of Lahore, Karachi, Sukkur, Multan, Rawalpindi, Peshawar, and Quetta divisions for information and implementation. It also directs the PR's IT director to ensure implementation for advance booking and instructs the DSs to apply the updated fare table at all stations and reservation offices. "To ensure smooth compliance, all booking and reservation offices, as well as station staff, are requested to immediately adopt these updated rates. Any discrepancies noticed by station/commercial staff must be reported to the office of the chief marketing manager and IT director through the concerned divisional commercial officer (DCO) within seven days. Failure to report any discrepancies within this time frame will lead to accountability being placed on the concerned staff," the notification warns. Upgrades and ML-1 plans The National Assembly's Standing Committee on Railways deliberated over the direly needed modernising of railways. With the whole world increasingly embracing electronic rail systems, the secretary of railways announced that a new "contact application" has been developed. This app will enable passengers to book seats and access additional travel information, and when asked about the development cost, the secretary stated that "no expense was incurred". Plans are underway to link all coaches with the contact app within five to six months. In a nod to the past, railway officials recalled that an electric train service was launched in 1979 between Lahore and Khanewal on a 286-kilometre track. However, following the shutdown of the electric train system, wires and poles were reportedly stolen.
