ISLAMABAD:
Work on the long-delayed ML-1 project will begin this year for the first time in the history of Pakistan Railways (PR), with Rs25 billion allocated for the flagship project out of the Rs40 billion released to the department, the Senate Standing Committee on Railways was told on Monday.
Briefing the committee at its meeting, the secretary of the Railway Board said efforts would be made to complete the ML-1 project within three years. He said the commencement of work on ML-1 this year was a first in the history of the railways.
However, the secretary informed the committee that the railways continued to face severe funding constraints, adding that the department had demanded Rs180 billion from the federal government during the last financial year, but only Rs40 billion had been provided.
Consequently, work on various projects was initiated after prioritising them according to the available resources.
The funding shortfall has also affected track rehabilitation and safety works across the country. The secretary told the committee that Rs307.993 million had been allocated for the rehabilitation of the Kotri-Akhandabad track for the 2026-27 financial year, while Rs2.778 billion had been earmarked for urgent track safety works on the Rohri-Khanpur section.
The meeting was informed that Rs200 million had been allocated for essential track safety works on the Keamari-Hyderabad section. However, railway officials said no additional funds were available for the section, resulting in only 4 per cent of the work being completed so far.
Briefing the committee on the Kotri-Dadu section, railway officials said 80 per cent of the project had been completed, while construction work on railway stations was under way. The project is expected to be completed by June 2027.
The committee also expressed concern over the extremely dilapidated condition of the Sukkur-Rohri section. Committee member Wasim Qadir proposed that a special request be made to the Prime Minister’s Office for the section, which was unanimously approved by the committee.
Railway officials said work on the Khanewal-Shorkot track via Faisalabad was progressing at only 10 per cent because the required funds had not been provided. Only Rs180 million had been allocated for the project.
Mahreen Razzaq Bhutto expressed serious concerns over the shortage of funds and track safety issues, saying dozens of trains were being derailed across the country because of the poor condition of railway tracks.
She said the government was paying very little attention to the Ministry of Railways.
The meeting also witnessed a heated exchange among members over political remarks. The committee convener said that if the Railway Board were empowered, Pakistan Railways could deliver better results using its own resources.
