Work on the ML-1 Karachi-Rohri section will begin in July next year

• Ahsan Iqbal orders Mohmand Dam to be treated as a priority project.
• It directs the completion of the Sukkur-Hyderabad highway in three years.
• No compromise on speed, quality on strategic projects, says the minister.

ISLAMABAD: Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal presided over a review meeting of key projects of the Public Sector Development Program (PSDP) in the railways, highways and water sectors, instructing the relevant ministries to prioritize timely execution, quality assurance and realistic financial planning for the next three years to ensure delivery of nationally critical infrastructure. The News was mentioned on Sunday.

The meeting held here reviewed important interventions in the transport and water sector under PSDP 2025-26, according to a press release on Saturday.

Member Infrastructure Dr Waqas Anwer gave a detailed presentation on the progress, scope and funding requirements of the priority projects while senior officials from the Ministry of Railways, National Highways Authority (NHA) and Ministry of Water Resources were present.

While reviewing the initiatives of the railway sector, the Planning Minister was briefed on the status of the Main Line-1 (ML-1) project, particularly the Karachi-Rohri section, for which the foundation stone is expected to be laid in July 2026. The meeting also reviewed the upgradation of 884 km Main Line-3 (ML-3) and Strategic Connectivityalway Tharrov. logistics for energy supply and industrial development.

The Thar Coal Railway Connectivity Project, with an estimated cost of Rs 53.7 billion, consists of three packages, including the construction of a new single-track railway line from Thar coal mines to new Chorr station at a distance of 105 km, a new double-track line of about nine km from Bin Qasim to Pack load at Port Asim. Qasim and Lakhra Power Station. The project is expected to be completed by June 2026.

Iqbal asked the Ministry of Railways to submit a clear assessment of funding requirements for the next three years, stressing that “there should be no compromise on speed and quality on any of these strategic projects as they represent long-term national advantages and must be built to the highest standards.”

The meeting also reviewed the portfolio of the National Highways Authority under PSDP 2025-26, which includes 71 projects with a total cost of about Rs 3.407 billion.

The minister directed that the Sukkur-Hyderabad highway be completed within three years and treated as a top priority project. He further directed that work on Karakoram Highway (KKH) phase 2 project should be expedited and completed by 2028 to save KKH from being cut off due to Diamer Bhasha Dam.

Under Public-Private Partnership (PPP), the minister highlighted Sambrial-Kharian-Rawalpindi highway, M-8 in Balochistan and Mashkel-Panjgur-Chahgi road projects as high priority initiatives that require speedy implementation.

He directed the NHA to prepare a comprehensive portfolio of critical projects and present funding needs for the next three years to ensure uninterrupted progress and timely completion.

Emphasizing governance and accountability, the Planning Minister directed the NHA to set up a robust monitoring and reporting mechanism, mandating fortnightly progress reports for review. “We need to ensure that bottlenecks are identified early and resolved immediately,” he said.

The meeting also reviewed major water sector projects under PSDP 2025-26, which include 34 projects with a total approved cost of Rs 1,848 billion.

The key projects discussed included Dasu Hydropower Project, Diamer-Bhasha Dam, Mohmand Dam Hydropower Project, Chashma Right Bank Canal, Tarbela 5th Extension Hydropower Project and K-IV water supply project for Karachi.

The Minister of Planning directed the secretary of the Ministry of Water Resources to submit a detailed report outlining the minimum annual funding limit required for each critical project, along with projected financial requirements for the next three years. He emphasized that resource planning must be realistic and aligned with execution capacity to avoid delays and cost overruns.

Iqbal specifically directed that the Mohmand Dam be treated as a priority project given its importance for water storage, flood mitigation, irrigation and power generation. “Water security is central to Pakistan’s economic stability and climate resilience, and these projects must be delivered on time to secure the country’s future,” he said.

The Planning Minister reiterated the government’s commitment to infrastructure-led development within the larger national vision, stating that integrated planning, fiscal discipline and institutional coordination are essential to ensure that these investments translate into economic growth, regional connectivity and improved quality of life for citizens.