Railway News / Discussion

[ghazi52]

ML-1 railway survey begins on Karachi-Rohri section​

By Tahir Ali | Gwadar Pro
Apr 11, 2026

ISLAMABAD, - A field survey for the upgrade of Pakistan’s Main Line-1 (ML-1) railway project has commenced on the Karachi-Rohri section, Federal Minister for Railways Muhammad Hanif Abbasi said on Friday.

The minister described the survey as a critical phase in the modernisation of the country’s national rail infrastructure.

Teams from the National Engineering Services Pakistan (NESPAK) are currently conducting detailed assessments of land, crops, trees, and existing structures along the route. Abbasi said this data would ensure a transparent compensation process for project-affected persons.

"The public is requested to fully cooperate with the survey teams and utilise the provided contact numbers to lodge any complaints with the project directors in Karachi and Sukkur," the minister said in a statement.

The ML-1 project is expected to increase train speeds, enhance passenger facilities, and provide a stimulus to the national economy, he added.

The project reached a policy milestone in October 2025 when the Central Development Working Party (CDWP) referred the preliminary designs and the 16.26 billion rupee ($58 million) Havelian Dry Port project to the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) for final approval.

The upgrades are being executed under the second phase of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

 

[Maea]

are there any planned upgrades for passenger cabin's interiors?
They look terrible to say the least.

 

[ghazi52]

Work on $2bn Karachi-Rohri rail line to begin in September: minister Hanif Abbasi​

APP
April 21, 2026

• Project aimed at modernising ageing rail infrastructure on 480km mainline

KARACHI: Federal Minister for Railways Muhammad Hanif Abbasi on Monday announced that work on the 480-kilometre-long Karachi-Rohri track will start in September with an estimated cost of two billion dollars.

Elaborating on measures for improvement of the Karachi-Rohri section of the main double line, the minister said that it was the most difficult track built in the 1860s.

He added that the prime minister had decided the 480-km-long Karachi-Rohri track will be rejuvenated with an estimated cost of $2bn, and the foundation stone of the project was expected to be laid in September this year.

 

[ghazi52]

Regional rail connectivity, the minister said that Pakistan was going to start development of a railway track connecting Central Asia and Europe via Iran soon.

“The work on the 900-km-long Rohri-Naukundi section has already been initiated on the directives of the Prime Minister, and the tendering process for laying a new railway track on the 87-km-Naukundi-Taftan section has been started”, he said.

Responding to another query, he said that a project to connect Thar Coal with the railway line was underway, and the track from Islamkot to Chhor is expected to be completed by the end of the year.

The federal minister also elaborated on various measures for improvement of railway stations, platforms and other facilities, and informed that the process of complete digitisation of Pakistan Railways (PR) was underway and it will be completed within a month.

He said that the PR and Punjab government had inked an agreement to modernise and expand rail services across the province.

 

[ghazi52]

Railway line project from Gwadar to Jacobabad begins on May 4​

By Yasir Habib Khan | Gwadar Pro
May 4, 2026

GWADAR - The land acquisition phase for the railway line project from Gwadar to Jacobabad (connecting Gwadar, Turbat, Panjgur, Basima, Khuzdar, and Jacobabad) has officially begun on May 4.

This development is being viewed in the context of Pakistan’s efforts to open six land routes for the transportation of goods to Iran, including the Gwadar-Gabd route, which is the shortest and expected to reduce transit time by up to 87%. The move aims to provide a secure alternative for third-country goods to reach Iran, especially during times when maritime trade is disrupted

Under the federal government’s Uraan Pakistan Vision, the railway line project from Gwadar to Jacobabad also aims to link Balochistan with inner Sindh through a modern transport network.

Passing through Gwadar, Turbat, Panjgur, Basima, and Khuzdar, the project is expected to play a significant role in the national economy. According to railway authorities, the project will cost approximately Rs15.5 billion and was approved in November 2024.

 

[Fatman17]

Pakistan Railways Outsources 5 Passenger Trains - Profit by Pakistan Today

Agreements cover Awam Express, Millat Express, Karakoram Express, Mianwali Passenger and Narowal Passenger under public-private partnership model

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