Due to delays, the cost of constructing the Main Line-1 (ML-1) railway project has escalated dramatically. Because of this, getting money for the government has become much more challenging.
With a cost estimate of $6 million and Beijing’s financial support, it was first envisioned as a component of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) in 2016.
Now, the price is $13 million. Shehbaz Sharif, the prime minister (PM), stressed this during the Pakistan Railways (PR) meeting.
The news agency learned through a conference source that the government was not given any cash to finish the project.
PM Gave Go-Ahead For 1st Segment of ML 1 Railway Project
The PM had thus given the go-ahead to at least start the first segment from Karachi to Sukkur using government financing.
The group was informed about China’s pledge to pay for the ML-1 project. The country hasn’t yet offered any confirmation in this regard, though.
The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf administration was charged by the present administration of “jeopardizing” the project by switching plan ML-1 from a Build Operate Transfer (BOT) model to an Engineering Procurement and Construction (EPC) model.
To read our blog on “China is delivering 46 high-speed rail coaches to Pakistan Railways,” click here.
