According to sources, a parliamentary committee was informed yesterday that the feasibility study of the Gwadar railway project, completed by an international company, has been finalized, and the Ministry of Railways is now preparing to present the project to the Board for final approval.
According to sources, a meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Pakistan Railways, chaired by Jam Saifullah Khan, was held to review railway strategy, operational reforms, and policy matters. Federal Minister for Railways Hanif Abbasi and the Secretary Railways informed the committee that the government is considering various options for completing the project, including possible collaboration with companies in the mineral sector.
Officials stated that the railway line will pass through mineral-rich areas of Balochistan and connect them to Gwadar Port. The project is expected to reduce traffic pressure on Karachi Port and improve railway connectivity to Turkey and Russia via Iran.
It was further shared that the government has also completed the feasibility study for the Basma–Jacobabad railway section, with an estimated cost of $4.7 billion. The committee reviewed plans to connect Gwadar with the national railway network and Quetta. Key projects include the Main Link Express, a 680-kilometer-long railway line from Gwadar to Nokundi, which will provide the mineral-rich Chagai region access to global markets. Another major project is Main Line–4 (ML-4), which will integrate Gwadar into Pakistan’s national railway system.
The committee was informed that the land survey for the project has been completed, and 282 acres of land have been identified. For the Nokundi–Rohri section, interim financing of $590 million will be available, while approximately $2 billion will be required for the Rohri–Karachi section, for which support from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) will be sought.
Committee members emphasized that alongside expansion projects, it is equally important to upgrade and improve the existing railway infrastructure.
According to sources, the meeting also reviewed the cancellation of the Bhalwal petrol pump tender and directed the issuance of a new tender through a transparent process. Discussions were also held on the railway connectivity between Gwadar Port and the Gwadar Railway Container Yard, and it was stated that 498.33 acres of land have already been acquired based on a 2005 study and its 2019 revalidation.
Operational reforms, particularly the outsourcing of luggage van services, were also reviewed. Officials stated that due to this initiative and natural retirements, staff numbers have decreased, resulting in additional annual revenue of Rs82 million.
The committee also examined a dispute related to Hyatt Regency land in Karachi, where Pakistan Railways is seeking to reclaim valuable land. Members stressed the importance of legal transparency in this matter.
Furthermore, disparities in railway services in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa were discussed, and it was noted that consultations are ongoing with provincial governments regarding cost-sharing, track repairs, and the launch of new services.
At the conclusion of the meeting, the Chairman emphasized the need to develop Pakistan Railways in line with international best practices, noting that valuable lessons were learned from a recent visit to China. The meeting ended with a consensus that strengthening the railway system as a cost-effective and sustainable mode of national connectivity is vital for the country’s interest.
