Islamabad: In a high-level meeting chaired by Federal Minister for Economic Affairs Ahad Cheema, Pakistan and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) agreed to expedite the documentation and preparatory formalities for the ML-1 Karachi-Rohri Section, a key component of the national railway upgrade initiative. The meeting focused on strategies to ensure the timely completion of the project’s preliminary requirements.

According to Press Information Department, the meeting included detailed briefings from Secretary Economic Affairs Muhammad Humair Karim and Secretary Railways Mazhar Ali Shah on the current status and future steps for the ML-1 project. ADB’s Country Director Emma Fan, along with senior officials from the bank, participated in the discussions, offering insights into how the bank can assist in advancing the initiative.

Minister Cheema directed the Ministry of Railways to work closely with the ADB and Economic Affairs Division to accelerate the documentation and procedural processes. He highlighted Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s interest in having the groundbreaking ceremony for the project within the current year. Cheema also discussed the government’s goal to secure ADB funding in the next fiscal year, emphasizing that meeting documentation deadlines would be crucial to achieving this.

Commitment to transparency and efficiency was reiterated by Cheema, who noted that ML-1 is expected to enhance freight movement and bolster railway services nationwide. He assured that the Karachi-Rohri section would commence as planned, with ongoing efforts to coordinate with other development partners for the remaining sections of the project stretching from Karachi to Peshawar.

Emma Fan of ADB acknowledged the proactive measures taken by the Economic Affairs Division and the Ministry of Railways, reaffirming the bank’s dedication to facilitating the project’s documentation and related formalities. She emphasized ADB’s intention to streamline the project review process, including the timely hiring of the PRF consultant, to ensure swift project implementation.