Economic corridor: Gwadar rail link plans eyed

Ministry of Railway is considering two proposals to establish rail links between Gwadar and other parts of the country

ISLAMABAD: The Ministry of Railways is considering two proposals to establish new rail links between Gwadar and other parts of the country in connection with China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, said a Pakistan Railways official. He described that one proposal is of linking Gwadar with Karachi along the Makran Coastal Highway is 700 kilometres. The second one aims at connecting Gwadar with Jacobabad via Turbat, Panjgur, Besima and Khuzdar with a 1048 km rail link. A PC-II amounting Rs135.500 million for carrying out feasibility studies of the above mentioned proposed links has been approved by Planning Commission for which funding will be provided in fiscal year 2014-15. The project could be completed by 2017-18 provided that the financial and economic viability of the scheme is established and availability of requisite funds is ensured, the official told.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 18^th, 2014.