Federal Minister for Railways Muhammad Hanif Abbasi has announced that work on the Main Line-I (ML-I) project will begin at Karachi Port in July 2026. The announcement came during Abbasi’s recent visit to Karachi, where he met with Rear Admiral (R) Shahid Ahmed, Chairman of Karachi Port Trust (KPT).
During the meeting, both parties discussed a joint strategy aimed at improving the port’s logistics and cargo handling capacity. They agreed on strengthening the railway system to ensure the efficient transportation of goods from Karachi Port. The minister highlighted several reform initiatives in the cargo transport sector, focusing on shifting freight movement from road to rail to enhance efficiency and reduce logistics costs.
Abbasi further stated that Pakistan Railways would significantly increase its cargo handling capacity in the coming months. As part of this effort, the railway infrastructure connected to Karachi Port will be upgraded. A key part of this plan includes modernizing the 54-kilometer railway section between KPT and Pipri to allow for faster and smoother cargo movement.
In addition, Pakistan Railways plans to operate four freight trains daily within the next five months, a move expected to promote rail-based cargo transportation. Rear Admiral Shahid Ahmed confirmed that KPT would prioritize bulk cargo transportation by rail and would upgrade its internal railway tracks to support these expanded operations.
Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to improving the logistics efficiency at Karachi Port, with the goal of strengthening Pakistan’s trade and transport network.
