Pakistan’s Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal has directed that groundwork for the Karachi-Rohri section of the Main Line-1 (ML-1) railway project begin in July 2026, marking a key milestone in national transport development.
During a high-level review of Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) 2025-26 projects, Iqbal emphasised timely execution, quality assurance, and realistic financial planning for railways, highways, and water sector initiatives over the next three years.
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The meeting also focused on the Thar Coal Railway Connectivity Project, a Rs53.7 billion initiative including a new single-track line from Thar mines to Chorr station, a double-track link from Bin Qasim to Port Qasim, and coal unloading facilities. Completion is expected by June 2026.
On highways, the minister instructed that the Sukkur-Hyderabad Motorway be completed within three years and treated as a top-priority project. He also directed expediting the Karakoram Highway phase 2 project to prevent disruption from the Diamer-Bhasha Dam lake.
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Under the Public-Private Partnership framework, Iqbal highlighted the Sambrial-Kharian-Rawalpindi motorway, M-8 in Balochistan, and Mashkel-Panjgur-Chahgi road projects as strategic infrastructure requiring accelerated implementation and detailed funding plans for the next three years.
In the water sector, key projects reviewed included Dasu Hydropower, Diamer-Bhasha Dam, Mohmand Dam, Chashma Right Bank Canal, Tarbela 5th Extension, and Karachi’s K-IV water supply. Iqbal stressed the Mohmand Dam’s priority due to its importance for water security, irrigation, and energy generation.
The minister underscored that robust monitoring mechanisms, integrated planning, and fiscal discipline are essential to ensure these strategic projects contribute to Pakistan’s economic growth, regional connectivity, and improved quality of life.