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Pakistan, China agree to revise cost of ML-1 project

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Pakistan and China have reportedly reached a consensus to revise the cost of the Mainline-1 (ML-1) project to approximately $6.6 billion, with an amended project design slated for submission to Pakistan by October 31.

ML-1 comprises a 1,872-kilometer railway track connecting Karachi to Peshawar traversing Sindh and Punjab provinces. The project involves upgrading and doubling the track, laying a new one with an improved subgrade for speeds of up to 160 km/h, all as part of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

According to a report by Dawn, Pakistan’s Communications Secretary, Khurram Agha, who leads the Joint Working Groups (JWG) for Aviation, Railways, and Infrastructure within CPEC, along with Railways Secretary Mazhar Ali Shah, is scheduled to attend a JWG meeting in Beijing. The purpose of this meeting is to finalize cost estimates and address associated matters.

If agreed by both sides, the adjusted cost of the ML-1 project will stand at around $6.6 billion, a notable decrease from the earlier estimate of $9.8 billion due to delays. This cost revision is attributed to China’s flexibility and modifications in project design, coupled with Pakistan’s willingness to independently develop certain segments, further contributing to cost savings.

An official announcement regarding this development is expected during the forthcoming visit of Pakistan’s caretaker Prime Minister, Anwaarul Haq Kakar, to China on October 18. During this visit, he will participate in annual events related to China’s One Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).


In addition to the cost revision for the ML-1 project, China and Pakistan will also discuss four previously delayed projects, including the Mirpur-Muzaffarabad-Mansehra Motorway, Zhob-Dera Ismail Khan Motorway, and Babusar Top. Formal negotiations on these projects are scheduled to take place during JWG meetings in the coming week.

These developments were reviewed during a recent meeting on CPEC projects, where the caretaker Minister for Planning and Development, Mohammad Sami Saeed, urged all ministries and divisions to expedite CPEC projects.

 
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Pakistan and China have reportedly reached a consensus to revise the cost of the Mainline-1 (ML-1) project to approximately $6.6 billion, with an amended project design slated for submission to Pakistan by October 31.

ML-1 comprises a 1,872-kilometer railway track connecting Karachi to Peshawar traversing Sindh and Punjab provinces. The project involves upgrading and doubling the track, laying a new one with an improved subgrade for speeds of up to 160 km/h, all as part of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

According to a report by Dawn, Pakistan’s Communications Secretary, Khurram Agha, who leads the Joint Working Groups (JWG) for Aviation, Railways, and Infrastructure within CPEC, along with Railways Secretary Mazhar Ali Shah, is scheduled to attend a JWG meeting in Beijing. The purpose of this meeting is to finalize cost estimates and address associated matters.

If agreed by both sides, the adjusted cost of the ML-1 project will stand at around $6.6 billion, a notable decrease from the earlier estimate of $9.8 billion due to delays. This cost revision is attributed to China’s flexibility and modifications in project design, coupled with Pakistan’s willingness to independently develop certain segments, further contributing to cost savings.

An official announcement regarding this development is expected during the forthcoming visit of Pakistan’s caretaker Prime Minister, Anwaarul Haq Kakar, to China on October 18. During this visit, he will participate in annual events related to China’s One Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).


In addition to the cost revision for the ML-1 project, China and Pakistan will also discuss four previously delayed projects, including the Mirpur-Muzaffarabad-Mansehra Motorway, Zhob-Dera Ismail Khan Motorway, and Babusar Top. Formal negotiations on these projects are scheduled to take place during JWG meetings in the coming week.

These developments were reviewed during a recent meeting on CPEC projects, where the caretaker Minister for Planning and Development, Mohammad Sami Saeed, urged all ministries and divisions to expedite CPEC projects.

I don't understand why Pakistan invests huge amount of money in military production but likes to outsource basic civil engineering works like roads and rail. The projects are fairly easy and would have given employment to a large number of unskilled and semiskilled people instead of increasing foreign debt and increasing dependence on foreign know how.
 
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I don't understand why Pakistan invests huge amount of money in military production but likes to outsource basic civil engineering works like roads and rail. The projects are fairly easy and would have given employment to a large number of unskilled and semiskilled people instead of increasing foreign debt and increasing dependence on foreign know how.
? cuz terror xi has big bribe money
 
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I don't understand why Pakistan invests huge amount of money in military production but likes to outsource basic civil engineering works like roads and rail. The projects are fairly easy and would have given employment to a large number of unskilled and semiskilled people instead of increasing foreign debt and increasing dependence on foreign know how.
Because imports suit the military/political /bureaucratic/business elites. They all make money without doing anything.
 
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Because imports suit the military/political /bureaucratic/business elites. They all make money without doing anything.
But they invest huge amount of scarce capital to build military aircraft, ships and submarines that generate little wealth or employment. It would be more efficient to import them straightaway and use the savings to build roads. After all what is there in building roads, it is mostly earth moving, compaction and pouring concrete. There is no special technology. To go into foreign debt to do what Romans did 2,000 years back sounds absurd.
 
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32% cut in outlay with certain parts to be built by Pakistan.
Does Pakistan have the means and ability to fill 32% of budget requirement ?
What is likely to happen is a Partial ML1 that does not provide end to end connectivity and defeats the whole purpose of ML1

This is a case of building to show we are doing something even if it is just digging holes and filling them up
 
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I don't understand why Pakistan invests huge amount of money in military production but likes to outsource basic civil engineering works like roads and rail. The projects are fairly easy and would have given employment to a large number of unskilled and semiskilled people instead of increasing foreign debt and increasing dependence on foreign know how.
Hi,

For train speeds of 60 - 70 mph---pakistan can do it. But when you want to get into 100 mph +++---you need a specialist.

That is what we went for.
 
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I don't understand why Pakistan invests huge amount of money in military production but likes to outsource basic civil engineering works like roads and rail. The projects are fairly easy and would have given employment to a large number of unskilled and semiskilled people instead of increasing foreign debt and increasing dependence on foreign know how.
Because Paxtanis are rich... even to pick up waste in their cities, they prefer import-quality Turkish companies over low quality Pakistani companies to do it

20230925_063423.jpg
 
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Hi,

For train speeds of 60 - 70 mph---pakistan can do it. But when you want to get into 100 mph +++---you need a specialist.

That is what we went for.
100 mph is not really fancy. This
1695604888162.png

was hauling trains at 126 Miles per hour in 1938.

32% cut in outlay with certain parts to be built by Pakistan.
Does Pakistan have the means and ability to fill 32% of budget requirement ?
What is likely to happen is a Partial ML1 that does not provide end to end connectivity and defeats the whole purpose of ML1

This is a case of building to show we are doing something even if it is just digging holes and filling them up
Is it really that hard to shave 32%? If Pakistanis do cutting and embankment themselves, that will knock off a third of the cost. You are talking of getting people to operate bulldozers and trucks.
 
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100 mph is not really fancy. This View attachment 955883
was hauling trains at 126 Miles per hour in 1938.


Is it really that hard to shave 32%? If Pakistanis do cutting and embankment themselves, that will knock off a third of the cost. You are talking of getting people to operate bulldozers and trucks.
Hi,

My father was a doctor in pak railways---. With that priveledge---I had the opportunity to get a ride in the diesel locomotives in pakistan---.

In 1975---the first GMU30's diesel locomotives came to pakistan. So---guess what---I would take a ride in the diesel loco every chance I got.

One time I saw the needle creep to the 100 mph past Kotri in the viccinity of Dhabeji Lake. The The train operator mentioned---the ground below is extremely solid---track is good and I have taken it to 110 mph. That is around 1975-76.

Since the change in govtmnts and poor maintenace---the track has been severely neglected alongwith signal system---bridges etc etc etc---. Corruption destroys the infra structure of the nation.

Hyderabad to Khanpur track that I rode in the loco showing 70-75 mph speed cannot handle that speed in many a section---.

If our industrial base had stayed intact in the 70's---we would have been more capable---and managed it ourseleves.

The locomotive is not the issue---.

It is the track that has to be built to modern standards and the train cars for that purpose---and who better to built them than the chinese.

Now as for your own example---your current railway speed in usa is inferior in speed to what the older express trains.

The track in the usa is as bad as in pakistan---speeds are nothing to be proud of---train timings are horrible---so---no reason to brag---.

Please impress children and young kids---I am old dog with creaking joints---.
 
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Hi,

My father was a doctor in pak railways---. With that priveledge---I had the opportunity to get a ride in the diesel locomotives in pakistan---.

In 1975---the first GMU30's diesel locomotives came to pakistan. So---guess what---I would take a ride in the diesel loco every chance I got.

One time I saw the needle creep to the 100 mph past Kotri in the viccinity of Dhabeji Lake. The The train operator mentioned---the ground below is extremely solid---track is good and I have taken it to 110 mph. That is around 1975-76.

Since the change in govtmnts and poor maintenace---the track has been severely neglected alongwith signal system---bridges etc etc etc---. Corruption destroys the infra structure of the nation.

Hyderabad to Khanpur track that I rode in the loco showing 70-75 mph speed cannot handle that speed in many a section---.

If our industrial base had stayed intact in the 70's---we would have been more capable---and managed it ourseleves.

The locomotive is not the issue---.

It is the track that has to be built to modern standards and the train cars for that purpose---and who better to built them than the chinese.

Now as for your own example---your current railway speed in usa is inferior in speed to what the older express trains.

The track in the usa is as bad as in pakistan---speeds are nothing to be proud of---train timings are horrible---so---no reason to brag---.

Please impress children and young kids---I am old dog with creaking joints---.
What you say about US Tracks is so true. There is a lot of politics in the building of rail lines in US and we have ver limited passenger use of rail so their is no incentive to update the lines for high speed transit. Cargo companies care more for efficiency than speed (a train can move 1 ton of freight 480 miles on a single gallon of fuel leading to a 75%smaller carbon footprint than a truck for per ton-mile) so their trains are slower moving and hence there is no need for high quality lines which focus on transit time. People in the US are far more likely to fly or drive given our relatively accessible domestic aor travel and also our extensive interstate system which makes navigating a giant country such as the US very easy.
 
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What you say about US Tracks is so true. There is a lot of politics in the building of rail lines in US and we have ver limited passenger use of rail so their is no incentive to update the lines for high speed transit. Cargo companies care more for efficiency than speed (a train can move 1 ton of freight 480 miles on a single gallon of fuel leading to a 75%smaller carbon footprint than a truck for per ton-mile) so their trains are slower moving and hence there is no need for high quality lines which focus on transit time. People in the US are far more likely to fly or drive given our relatively accessible domestic aor travel and also our extensive interstate system which makes navigating a giant country such as the US very easy.
You are right. U.S. rail system has nothing to do with politics and it is all economics. It stopped being a passenger carrier by 1950's due to people's preference for cars for short and medium distances and air for long distance travel. The rail tracks are privately owned, and they maintain it for best profitability for freight traffic. U.S. is not a good example for passenger rail traffic, though it does a O.K. job for freight.
 
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Pakistan and China have reportedly reached a consensus to revise the cost of the Mainline-1 (ML-1) project to approximately $6.6 billion, with an amended project design slated for submission to Pakistan by October 31.

ML-1 comprises a 1,872-kilometer railway track connecting Karachi to Peshawar traversing Sindh and Punjab provinces. The project involves upgrading and doubling the track, laying a new one with an improved subgrade for speeds of up to 160 km/h, all as part of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

According to a report by Dawn, Pakistan’s Communications Secretary, Khurram Agha, who leads the Joint Working Groups (JWG) for Aviation, Railways, and Infrastructure within CPEC, along with Railways Secretary Mazhar Ali Shah, is scheduled to attend a JWG meeting in Beijing. The purpose of this meeting is to finalize cost estimates and address associated matters.

If agreed by both sides, the adjusted cost of the ML-1 project will stand at around $6.6 billion, a notable decrease from the earlier estimate of $9.8 billion due to delays. This cost revision is attributed to China’s flexibility and modifications in project design, coupled with Pakistan’s willingness to independently develop certain segments, further contributing to cost savings.

An official announcement regarding this development is expected during the forthcoming visit of Pakistan’s caretaker Prime Minister, Anwaarul Haq Kakar, to China on October 18. During this visit, he will participate in annual events related to China’s One Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).


In addition to the cost revision for the ML-1 project, China and Pakistan will also discuss four previously delayed projects, including the Mirpur-Muzaffarabad-Mansehra Motorway, Zhob-Dera Ismail Khan Motorway, and Babusar Top. Formal negotiations on these projects are scheduled to take place during JWG meetings in the coming week.

These developments were reviewed during a recent meeting on CPEC projects, where the caretaker Minister for Planning and Development, Mohammad Sami Saeed, urged all ministries and divisions to expedite CPEC projects.


The original estimate was $9.8 billion. Someone is looting Pakistan. Good luck :-)
 
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Hi,

My father was a doctor in pak railways---. With that priveledge---I had the opportunity to get a ride in the diesel locomotives in pakistan---.

In 1975---the first GMU30's diesel locomotives came to pakistan. So---guess what---I would take a ride in the diesel loco every chance I got.

One time I saw the needle creep to the 100 mph past Kotri in the viccinity of Dhabeji Lake. The The train operator mentioned---the ground below is extremely solid---track is good and I have taken it to 110 mph. That is around 1975-76.

Since the change in govtmnts and poor maintenace---the track has been severely neglected alongwith signal system---bridges etc etc etc---. Corruption destroys the infra structure of the nation.

Hyderabad to Khanpur track that I rode in the loco showing 70-75 mph speed cannot handle that speed in many a section---.

If our industrial base had stayed intact in the 70's---we would have been more capable---and managed it ourseleves.

The locomotive is not the issue---.

It is the track that has to be built to modern standards and the train cars for that purpose---and who better to built them than the chinese.

Now as for your own example---your current railway speed in usa is inferior in speed to what the older express trains.

The track in the usa is as bad as in pakistan---speeds are nothing to be proud of---train timings are horrible---so---no reason to brag---.

Please impress children and young kids---I am old dog with creaking joints---.
I was not bragging about U.S. rail which is for freight traffic and not passenger service. I was questioning the wisdom of incurring foreign debt for a very established civil engineering project of building railroads. My argument was if the investment that goes into military technologies were put into civil engineering, it would produce better infrastructure without foreign debt.
 
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