Advancing CPEC: Paving the Way - Preparatory Meeting for Transport Infrastructure JWG

The Minister of Planning, Development, and Special Initiatives recently chaired a preparatory meeting for the Joint Working Group on Transport Infrastructure. The meeting brought together officials from various organizations, including the CPEC Authority, NHA, Gwadar Port Authority, and senior officers from the Ministry of Planning and Railways.

During the meeting, the Minister highlighted a critical issue: the depth of Gwadar Port, which has dwindled to 11 meters due to neglect in the previous administration. To facilitate the navigation of larger vessels, the port's depth ideally should be 18 meters. Consequently, urgent steps were mandated to commence the dredging process at Gwadar Port, with the goal of transforming it into a viable transportation hub for larger ships.

The Minister also voiced concerns about the ML-1 project, which should have initiated in 2018 but has experienced significant delays, resulting in substantial financial losses for the national exchequer. In response, the Minister instructed an evaluation of the cost associated with a 250 km/hour track for future project sustainability. The Railway authorities were directed to expedite the ML-1 project's progress, and the Minister underscored the importance of integrating the Fiber Optic Cable project within ML-1 to optimize its economic efficiency.

The Minister stressed the significance of the Karachi Circular Railway (KCR) as another vital mass transit initiative, emphasizing the need to execute it following the successful model of the Orange Line in Lahore.

Additionally, the Minister emphasized the prioritization of projects, such as the Mansehra-Muzafarabad and Babusar Tunnel, as well as the Zhob and D.I Khan Projects, for inclusion in the upcoming Joint Coordination Committee (JCC). NHA was instructed to conduct a feasibility study for the Kabul-Peshawar Motorway to further enhance regional connectivity.