The exploration of the potential for securing funding for the Multan-Lahore portion of the Main Line (ML-1) through a Build Operate and Transfer (BOT) framework is being considered.
The aforementioned statement was made by Shahid Ashraf Tarar, the interim Federal Minister for Communication, Railways & Maritime. Tarar received a comprehensive briefing on many aspects of railway service delivery, including operational, financial, and administrative concerns. The Federal Minister was informed by Syed Mazhar Ali Shah, the Secretary/Chairman of Railways.
According to the minister, ensuring the safety of passengers is of utmost importance. Ensuring the safety of passengers during train operations is of paramount importance, and it is imperative that Pakistan Railways promptly implements measures to achieve this objective. It is mandatory for all departments responsible for train safety to expeditiously carry out safety audits and assessments. The submission of a detailed report regarding the identification of gaps, necessary rectifications, and corresponding recommendations is required within a timeframe of 7 days.
According to Tarar, ML-1 holds significant strategic value within the framework of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), and efforts would be made to actively advance the project for prompt execution. The potential for pursuing investment for the Multan-Lahore portion of the ML-1 via a Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) framework will also be investigated.
The minister made a decision to prioritize strategic measures aimed at enhancing the safety and efficiency of service delivery, as well as increasing the financial stability of the Pakistan Railway.