ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Railways Muhammad Hanif Abbasi has announced that work on Pakistan Railways’ flagship Main Line-I (ML-I) project will begin from Karachi Port in July 2026, following the finalisation of a joint strategy with the Karachi Port Trust (KPT) to strengthen rail-based cargo movement.
The announcement came during the minister’s visit to Karachi, where he met KPT Chairman Rear Admiral (R) Shahid Ahmed. According to a press release issued on Tuesday, both sides agreed to upgrade and reinforce the railway system connected to Karachi Port to improve cargo handling and logistics efficiency.
Abbasi said the government is working to shift freight transportation from road to rail in order to reduce logistics costs and improve efficiency. He added that Pakistan Railways will expand its cargo handling capacity in the coming months, with major upgrades planned for rail infrastructure linked to the port.
As part of the initiative, the 54-kilometre railway section between KPT and Pipri will be modernised to enable faster and smoother cargo movement. The minister said Pakistan Railways aims to operate four freight trains daily within the next five months, a move expected to boost rail-based cargo transportation.
Rear Admiral (R) Shahid Ahmed said KPT would prioritise bulk cargo movement through rail and upgrade its internal railway tracks to support increased freight operations.
Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to jointly improving Karachi Port’s logistics performance to strengthen Pakistan’s trade and transport network.