Lahore: Pakistan and China will prepare a feasibility report to upgrade Mainline-I, a rail track operated by Pakistan Railways (PR) that runs between Peshawar and Karachi, which is a strategic scheme under the multi-billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project, a news source reported. A memorandum of understanding (MoU) in this regard has been signed between PR and the National Railway Administration of China (NRAC).
Minister for Railways Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed, who was flanked by a 45-member Chinese delegation headed by China’s deputy minister for railways, said the NRAC will complete initial report of the project’s Phase-I by December 25.
Rasheed referred to ML-I as the backbone of CPEC, saying Pakistan Railways is also in talks with the Chinese delegation for upgradation of Mainline-II and III tracks.
He said the project, if it gets Chinese approval, would create 100,000 jobs in the railways. He added that he has requested Prime Minister Imran Khan to upgrade by one step the payscale of all railway employees.
He announced that the prime minister would inaugurate four more passenger trains at a ceremony on November 23, saying PR, after the inauguration, would achieve its target to run 10 more passenger trains under the 100 Days Agenda.
The two sides have also agreed to hold a detailed interaction of officials concerned to come up with innovative strategies for the railways sectors of the two countries. A two-day session would be held in this regard and the final recommendations will be released on December 25.
