ISLAMABAD:
Pakistan Railways’ western expansion plans gained momentum on Thursday as lawmakers were informed that the cost of the Basima-Jacobabad railway section has been re-estimated at $4.7 billion, with the acquisition of 13 acres of land already in progress, marking a key step towards better rail connectivity in Balochistan and beyond.
The update was shared with the Senate Standing Committee on Railways amid deliberations on linking Gwadar with the national railway network, including the Main Line-1 project and possible regional connections through ML-3.
Meanwhile, preparations to connect Gwadar with the Main Line 1 (ML-1) rail project have entered a critical phase, with the feasibility study for the long-planned project already complete.
The meeting, chaired by Senator Jam Saifullah Khan in Parliament, reviewed multiple administrative, financial and development matters of PR, including the proposed Gwadar rail connectivity project and its link with Quetta.
Officials informed the committee that the feasibility study to connect Gwadar with the main railway line had been completed and subsequently reviewed by an international company. Preparations are underway to submit the project to the Railway Board for formal approval.
Financing options being considered include government resources and partnerships with mining companies.
Officials said direct rail connectivity between Gwadar and mineral-rich regions of Balochistan would significantly boost mineral exports. The committee was also briefed on the possibility of connecting Nokundi to ML-3, which would provide rail access to Iran, Türkiye and Russia.
Officials added that activation of Gwadar route would reduce traffic pressure at Karachi port.
Following the completion of the feasibility study for the Basima-Jacobabad railway section, the cost of the project has been re-estimated at $4.7 billion, while the process of acquiring 13 acres of land has already begun.
Federal Minister for Railways Hanif Abbasi told the committee that funding for the ML-1 project would now come from the Asian Development Bank (ADB), instead of China.
He said detailed design and prequalification were in progress and the project was expected to break ground by July. He added that PR was adopting a public-private partnership model for its projects and that, for the first time, provinces had been formally offered participation in railway branches.
The meeting also witnessed strong reactions from lawmakers when Senator Rubina Khalid expressed serious frustration over the reopening of matters resolved a year and a half ago, terming the poor inter-ministerial coordination as a waste of time and resources.
A heated exchange took place between Senator Nasir Butt and the Railway Minister over the cancellation of a tender.
Senator Butt demanded transparency and accountability, while Abbasi rejected any accusations of personal favoritism, stating that the tender had been canceled simply because of irregularities.
The committee expressed grave concern over illegal encroachments of railway land, non-implementation of Supreme Court orders and failure to recover land worth billions of rupees. He recommended clearing the title of the railway land and disposing of it through transparent auctions.
