Islamabad: The Government of Pakistan and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) have reaffirmed their commitment to the timely completion of the Main Line-1 (ML-1) railway project design, following a meeting between Federal Minister for Economic Affairs Senator Ahad Cheema and an ADB delegation. The focus of the meeting was to ensure the finalization of the project design by October and to address subsequent preparatory requirements.

According to Press Information Department, the ADB informed the meeting that its technical team and project consultants are actively working on the ML-1 project. The ADB emphasized coordination with the Government of Pakistan to progress through procurement and other stages efficiently once the design is finalized.

Senator Ahad Cheema expressed appreciation for the ADB’s progress and stressed the importance of maintaining coordination among stakeholders to facilitate the project’s timely completion. He highlighted that Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif prioritizes the ML-1 project, urging swift progress towards implementation. The Minister assured the ADB of the government’s readiness to fulfill all requirements and provide necessary support.

The meeting also addressed the need for ongoing review of the project’s implementation schedule, seeking opportunities to optimize timelines while adhering to technical, legal, and procedural standards. The ADB representatives acknowledged Pakistan’s commitment and affirmed their continued cooperation to ensure timely progress, including sharing requirements related to subsequent processing and approvals.

The meeting was attended by ADB Country Director for Pakistan Emma Fan, ADB Deputy Country Director, Secretary Railways Mazhar Ali Shah, Secretary Economic Affairs Muhammad Humair Karim, Director General Planning, Ministry of Railways, and other senior officials. The gathering underscored the shared commitment of both parties to maintain close coordination for the ML-1 project’s design finalization and implementation.