Pakistan & China agree on early launch of ML-1 project

Pakistan & China agree on early launch of ML-1 project. Pakistan and China on Thursday agreed on the early launch of the much-awaited Mainline-1 (ML1) project, aimed at revamping and modernising the country’s age-old railway infrastructure.

The agreement was reached between the two countries during a dinner hosted by the Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Nong Rong for Railway Minister Khawaja Saad Rafique.

The minister was accompanied by the railway’s chairman, additional secretary, secretary of aviation and chief executive officer of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA).

Rafique invited Rong to consider a partnership of budget airlines with PIA in order to make Pakistan’s small airports functional and provide better travel facilities to the passengers.

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The Chinese ambassador affirmed the railway minister to discuss his desired issue with the Chinese private airlines.

The envoy also assured of taking initiatives to allow direct flights from Pakistan to Beijing and Guangzhou for Pakistani airlines at the earliest.

Karachi–Peshawar Railway Line also referred to as Main Line 1 or ML-1) is one of four main railway lines in Pakistan, operated and maintained by Pakistan Railways.

The line begins from Karachi City station or Kiamari station and ends at Peshawar Cantonment Station. The total length of this railway line is 1,687 kilometers (1,048 mi).

There are 184 railway stations from Kiamari to Peshawar Cantonment on this line.[4] The line serves as the main passenger and freight line of the country. 75% of the country’s cargo and passenger traffic uses the line.

The line is currently undergoing a six-year Rs. 1286.68 billion (US$5.6 billion) upgrade and renovation as part of the China Pakistan Economic Corridor, with average rail speeds expected be doubled to 160 kilometers per hour upon completion.