Pakistan and China will sign a new framework for the revival and upgradation of Main Line-1 (ML-1) from Karachi to Peshawar during the Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif''s visit to China. Official sources revealed to Business Recorder that financial support to Pakistan Railways under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is currently estimated at $5.7 billion and is expected to increase to $8.2 billion after approval of the new framework.
The Prime Minister is schedule to leave for China on Friday (today) to attend the two-day ''Belt and Road Forum for International Co-operation,'' beginning in Beijing on Sunday. Federal Minister for Railways Khawaja Saad Rafique and secretary, advisor and director planning of Pakistan Railways already left for China on Wednesday last. Sources further revealed that China while terming ML-1 a strategically important project of CPEC has agreed to provide long-term loan on most favourable terms for its up-gradation from Karachi to Peshawar. Work on the project would commence by the end of the current year and would be completed in five years.
With the up-gradation of ML-1, train''s speed will increase to 160 kilometers per hour compared to the current 120 km/h while train capacity would be increased from the current 32 to 171 trains per day. Sources said that Railways earlier had completed first feasibility of ML-1, which caters 70 per cent of the Railway traffic up-gradation with its own resources while the second feasibility in collaboration with Chinese experts has also been completed. China and Pakistan had established working groups for discussion on up-gradation of the rail line and negotiations started earlier in January 2017. According to the new framework, underpasses and flyovers would also be constructed on level crossing points. Further to make travel by train safer, tracks in populated areas would be fenced.
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