ONE of the signature projects envisaged under the CPEC umbrella is the Mainline-1 railway scheme, which is yet to see the light of day. However, the administration is apparently making renewed efforts to ensure that this multibillion-dollar project is put on track, hoping that the presence of senior Chinese leaders at the SCO summit in Islamabad later this month will provide the necessary impetus to finally launch ML-1. During a meeting to review CPEC on Wednesday, Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal urged the relevant ministries to finalise funding terms with their Chinese counterparts for the $6.8bn scheme. As per reports, the state wants to make use of Chinese Prime Minister Li Qiang’s attendance at the summit to announce the ‘commencement’ of CPEC’s Phase-2; ML-1 would be a central part of the second phase.

The need to update Pakistan’s railways infrastructure is clear, particularly to strengthen economic activities in the country, including cross-border trade. However, as with most things in Pakistan, especially matters related to essential infrastructure projects, progress on the ML-1 scheme has been glacial. The framework agreement was signed in May 2017. But even more than seven years after the deal was inked, ML-1 has yet to get off the drawing board. Three previous administrations have made efforts — though not very successfully — to get ML-1 up and running, and the cabinet announced in August renewed efforts to ‘revive’ the massive transport scheme. While the delay in its commencement can partly be attributed to bureaucratic slothfulness, securing the funds required for a scheme of this scale has also been challenging in view of Pakistan’s precarious financial health. With some signs of economic stability now, it is hoped that the funding required for ML-1 is secured, and work can get underway. The scheme proposes upgrading the over 1,700-km railway track from Karachi to Peshawar, as well as building a dry port at Havelian, along with improving the railway infrastructure by laying new tracks, boosting train speed, rehabilitating bridges, updating the signalling system, etc. When completed, the project can play an arterial role in connecting people and moving freight both internally and across our borders by linking China and the Central Asian states to the Gulf and beyond. However, to translate this vision into reality, we will need to adhere to international best practices, and work diligently.

Published in Dawn, October 5th, 2024