Pakistan is preparing to start major work on its Main Line-1 (ML-1) railway upgrade early next year. Civil construction on the first phase of this $2.5 billion project is expected to begin in January 2027.
The first phase covers the 480-kilometre section between Karachi and Rohri (near Sukkur). New tracks will be laid in both directions, along with fencing to keep people, animals and vehicles off the line. This busy corridor currently carries about 76% of passenger trains and 98% of freight traffic. It links key cities and industrial areas but suffers from old, damaged tracks that cause frequent accidents and delays.
Railways Minister Hanif Abbasi said the government is working hard to meet the timeline set by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. Pakistan Railways will hold an online meeting with local and international contractors and consultants on 8 September 2026. This will help prepare for tenders, bidding and contracts, a process that could take four to five months.
The project is mainly financed by the Asian Development Bank, with possible support from other international lenders. Once complete, trains on this section should run at speeds of up to 160 km per hour. Full construction is expected to take two-and-a-half to three years.
Officials chose the Karachi-Rohri stretch first because it has the most problems with track failures. A recent meeting at railway headquarters set 30 October 2026 as the deadline to finish the review phase, with weekly progress checks.