IT is a matter of serious concern that the strategic project of ML-I, which is deeply linked to the socio-economic development of the entire country, is still not getting the priority it deserved mainly due to foreign pressure and lack of necessary commitment and vision on the part of the successive rulers. In this backdrop, the decision of the Government to give initial clearance for the $6.7 billion project is a positive development but reports indicate some lobbies are creating hurdles in the clearance and implementation of this vital project.
Different countries invested hugely in modernization of their railways which are playing a significant role in their socio-economic development. Pakistan Railways enjoys monopoly in the field but still it is suffering from unsustainable losses due to its politically motivated operation and failure to upgrade infrastructure and facilities. The ML-I project is aimed at modernizing the country’s outdated and rundown railway infrastructure including tracks and signalling systems. It is considered the country’s lifeline because 80% of the population and industrial centres are located along the corridor. The progress on the crucial project remained stalled despite the willingness of China to extend fullest possible cooperation. However, the damage done to the historic initiative of CPEC during the tenure of the PTI Government is becoming visible with the passage of time as different lobbies are now active to undermine the project on different pleas. Earlier, the length of the track was shortened and then speed limit reduced from the proposed 180 kilometres to 120 and now the project is considered as unviable. It is intriguing that like Pakistan Steel Mills another strategic institution is being ruined on the pretext of savings or reducing cost, which is indeed a short-sighted approach that ignores the long term interests and gains. Prudence demands the cost, design and scope of the project may be revised and it should be approved as originally conceived.
