Pakistan Railways will build the $2.5 billion Karachi Rohri railway project, laying a new 480-kilometre track between Karachi and Rohri as the first phase of the Main Line-1 (ML-1) project, Railways Minister Hanif Abbasi told the National Assembly on Thursday.
Civil work on the first phase is likely to begin in January 2027, as Pakistan Railways accelerates market consultations, pre-bid preparations and other processes to meet the timeline set by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
The Karachi-Rohri and Rohri-Multan sections are among the most accident-prone parts of the railway network, with ageing tracks contributing to derailments and requiring frequent, costly repairs. Pakistan Railways has selected the Karachi-Rohri section for the initial phase of the ML-1 project.
Abbasi said the railway network recorded 349 train derailments between January 2022 and September 2026, with faulty tracks identified as the leading cause. Staff errors accounted for 95 derailments, while 64 were attributed to defects in rolling stock. Investigations into 331 incidents had been completed, while 120 cases remained pending.
Why the Karachi Rohri railway project matters
ML-1 is the upgrade of the Karachi-Peshawar main railway line, the busiest corridor in the country and the centrepiece of rail cooperation under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor. The project has been discussed for years, and financing has been the main hurdle. Earlier this month, Railways Minister Cheema asked the Asian Development Bank to fast-track ML-1 and secured $5.6 billion in financing support, which put the long-delayed upgrade back on track.
The choice of the Karachi-Rohri stretch for the first phase is deliberate. It carries heavy freight and passenger traffic through Sindh, and its ageing infrastructure has made it the most derailment-prone section of the network. A new 480km track here would cut accidents, speed up journeys, and reduce the repair bills that faulty rails keep generating. For daily commuters and freight operators, the difference between the current creaking line and a rebuilt one is measured in hours saved and lives protected.
What else the National Assembly heard
In a written reply, National Health Minister Syed Mustafa Kamal said Islamabad had reported seven confirmed dengue cases between June and September 2026, with no deaths recorded during the period. Authorities had registered 214 first information reports over violations of anti-dengue standard operating procedures, while preventive measures targeting mosquito larvae had been carried out at more than 1.293 million sites.
The house was also informed that a national strategy to combat HIV had been developed for 2026–2031, and that a programme offering free screening, diagnosis and treatment for eligible people aged 12 and above was under way to eliminate hepatitis C, with 40 health centres in Islamabad providing services under the programme.
During the session, the Privatisation Commission (Amendment) Bill 2026 and the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Amendment) Ordinance 2026 were laid before the house, and the National Assembly passed the Life Insurance Nationalisation (Amendment) Bill 2026.
What happens next
Pakistan Railways will now push through market consultations and pre-bid work to hit the January 2027 start date for civil works. The Karachi-Rohri section is only the first phase — the full ML-1 upgrade runs all the way to Peshawar, and its later phases will depend on how smoothly this one moves.
What is the Karachi-Rohri rail project?
A $2.5 billion project to lay a new 480-kilometre railway track between Karachi and Rohri, forming the first phase of the ML-1 upgrade of the Karachi-Peshawar main line.
When will work on the project begin?
Civil work on the first phase is likely to begin in January 2027, according to Railways Minister Hanif Abbasi.
How many train derailments has Pakistan recorded?
Pakistan Railways recorded 349 derailments between January 2022 and September 2026, with faulty tracks the leading cause, followed by staff errors (95) and rolling-stock defects (64).
What is the ML-1 project?
ML-1 is the planned upgrade of the Karachi-Peshawar main railway line, the country’s busiest corridor and a key project under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor.
