Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has stressed the need for an early groundbreaking of the ML-1 project during talks with Asian Development Bank Vice President Yingming Yang. The meeting took place in Islamabad on Friday.
The prime minister said upgrading the Karachi-Peshawar railway corridor was vital for modern freight transport. He also linked the project to stronger regional trade, better logistics and major industrial initiatives. The discussion focused on accelerating work on the long-delayed railway project.
According to the Prime Minister’s Office, the meeting also reviewed Pakistan’s development partnership with the Asian Development Bank. Both sides discussed priority interventions under the new Country Partnership Strategy for 2026–2030. Shehbaz welcomed Yang on his first official visit to Pakistan as ADB vice president.
Shehbaz praised the ADB for its support for urban infrastructure, transport and public service projects. He also said Pakistan had managed a difficult economic recovery through fiscal, structural and governance reforms. According to him, these measures helped restore macroeconomic stability and improve investor confidence.
ADB Vice President Yinming Yang calls on Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif in Islamabad on 4 September 2026. pic.twitter.com/GCG3K2HDYw
— Prime Minister’s Office (@PakPMO) September 4, 2026
The prime minister further said the government was removing administrative bottlenecks through dedicated execution task forces. The meeting also explored cooperation in private-sector development, energy security and food security. Other areas included export competitiveness, artificial intelligence and information technology.
The ML-1 project involves upgrading a 1,733-kilometre railway corridor linking Karachi with Peshawar through major cities such as Lahore and Rawalpindi. The plan includes track rehabilitation and expansion, with trains eventually expected to operate at speeds of up to 160 kilometres per hour. The project aims to improve passenger and freight services while reducing transport costs.
The government has identified ML-1 as a national priority after years of delays linked to financing and administrative challenges. Work on an elevated 480-kilometre Karachi-Rohri section has also been pursued as part of efforts to revive the project. The latest talks with the ADB signal renewed efforts to move the ML-1 project toward implementation and strengthen Pakistan’s transport and trade network.
