Pakistan

China prefers elected govt for ML-1 project

Caretaker government eyes project launch amidst tenure

Amna Ali December 13, 2023

Caretaker PM Anwaarul Haq Kakar unveils the plaques to inaugurate Pak-China Friendship Hospital project and China-Aided Seawater Desalination project in Gawadar. PHOTO: NNI

ISLAMABAD:

The Chinese authorities have displayed a preference to collaborate with the elected government rather than the current caretaker administration on the multi-billion-dollar Mainline-1 (ML-1) project, sources within the planning ministry revealed on Tuesday.

Despite the caretaker government's inclination towards initiating the project during its tenure, there appears to be a diplomatic protocol at play.

The Chinese authorities, in adherence to diplomatic norms, have expressed a desire to engage with the forthcoming elected government for the project, the sources said.

It is pertinent to note that this comes as recently Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar’s directives prompted the ministry of railways to submit the revised PC-1 of the ML-1 project to the planning ministry.

The estimated overall project cost stands at $6.67 billion, to be executed in two phases. The revised PC-1 outlines the construction of an initial phase covering a 930-kilometre track to be completed within five years, costing $3159.7 million.

In the first phase, a track of 930 kilometres will be built. The cost of the track built in the first phase is $3159.7 million.

Package One consists of a 397-kilometre track, encompassing Nowshera, Rohri, Khanpur, and PR Walton, while Package Two extends for 533 kilometres

Package Two includes tracks from Karachi to Nawabshah (296 kilometres) and from Khanpur to Multan (237 kilometres), with a total expenditure of $3,159 million.

The second phase of ML-1 incurs a cost of $3,518.8 million, covering a track length of 796 kilometres. Package Three links Multan to Lahore (334 kilometres) with an expenditure of $799 million.

Package Four includes tracks from Lahore to Rawalpindi (288 kilometres) and Rawalpindi to Peshawar (174 kilometres), along with the Havelian Dry Port. The total cost is $2,719 million, with an expected completion within four years.
PC-1, or Planning Commission Form 1, serves as a comprehensive project document detailing project needs, description, justification, location, duration, cost estimates, and anticipated benefits.