$2 Billion Karachi–Rohri Rail Project Gains Chinese Approval
Pakistan has secured Chinese approval to advance the $2 billion upgrade of the Karachi–Rohri railway line, Railways Minister Hanif Abbasi confirmed this week. The Asian Development Bank (ADB) will lead project financing in partnership with the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), under a consortium arrangement with China.
The Karachi–Rohri section, part of the $7 billion Main Line-1 (ML-1) project, will revamp Pakistan’s outdated railway system. Speeds on this line, currently limited to 40 km/h, are set to increase to 120 km/h. This upgrade is considered vital for the Reko Diq mining venture, expected to generate significant copper and gold exports for Pakistan in the coming decades.
Despite financing from ADB, China will continue to supervise project execution due to its railway expertise. Abbasi confirmed that Pakistan will seek Chinese approval for each ML-1 section as alternative funding is secured. He added that financing terms are still being negotiated but assured that interest rates would remain minimal.
The Karachi–Rohri upgrade is scheduled to begin in mid-2026, following ADB feasibility studies concluding by December 2023. Additionally, the Reko Diq Mining Company has pledged $390 million in bridge financing for the Rohri–Nokundi stretch in Balochistan, enabling the annual transport of up to one million tons of copper.
Security remains a challenge, with Balochistan’s infrastructure often targeted by separatists. Abbasi emphasized that Federal Constabulary forces will be deployed to safeguard mineral transport trains.
Beyond this project, Pakistan is pushing forward with international connectivity. The Islamabad–Tehran–Istanbul freight service is expected to resume in December after a four-year suspension, supporting exports such as rice and pink salt. Moreover, the $10 billion Uzbekistan–Afghanistan–Pakistan railway initiative is being advanced to connect Central Asia with European and South Asian markets.