Pakistan, China sign ML-1 railways agreement [1,872 kms Karachi to Peshawar track to be doubled]

[WebGuru]

BEIJING: Pakistan and China have signed an agreement for the expansion and reconstruction of existing Karachi-Lahore Peshawar (ML-1) railway track.

The document was signed by Minister for Railways Sheikh Rashid Ahmed and Chinese Envoy to Pakistan Yao Jing in Beijing on Sunday.

In a statement from Beijing, Rashid said it is a great day in history of Pakistan Railways. He said under the project a double track from Peshawar to Karachi will be laid.

The minister said speed of train on new track will be 160 kilometer per hour.

According to the project details available on CPEC website, the entire track of 1,872 kms from Karachi to Peshawar would be doubled.

The speed of passenger trains would be raise from 65/110km/h to 160 km/h however, the freight trains would operate at 120 km/h.

Computer based signaling and control system will also be installed.


Source: https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/464252-pakistan-china-sign-ml-1-railways-agreement

 

[WebGuru]

Finally it's here i wish our last govt had accepted the Chinese offer to get ML-1 before Orange line but well daer aaye derust aaye...

 

[Angrez Pakistani]

Good stuff. Hope they get it done. Don't want it to be another BRT.

 

[Bewal Express]

Good stuff. Hope they get it done. Don't want it to be another BRT.

BRT has had problems but timing as per international standards is not one of them.

 

[gazza619]

Oh wow that is a big big hike in speed.

Well done Sheikh Rasheed!

 

[PakLFC]

So when will the reconstruction be complete?

 

[Pete Rose]

These are the projects that Pakistan needs, not a highway connecting Islamabad to Lahore

 

[Badsha]

These are the projects that Pakistan needs, not a highway connecting Islamabad to Lahore

Yes but that highway has been extremely beneficial for Pakistan as well.

 

[Mamoon]

Yes but that highway has been extremely beneficial for Pakistan as well.

Don’t expect overseas Pakistanis to realize and understand what a blessing motorway has been.

 

[Slog]

Yes but that highway has been extremely beneficial for Pakistan as well.

It’s not used that much to be honest

Like it has been useful for people who use it but the cost it incurred at the time is not justified since not enough people use it

Even in peak times you see only a few vehicles whizzing past sometimes

 

[Pete Rose]

Yes but that highway has been extremely beneficial for Pakistan as well.

Explain to me specifically and hopefully with numbers how the Islamabad Lahore highway added to (1) GDP (2) Export growth (3) employment

 

[King-Misbah]

Don’t expect overseas Pakistanis to realize and understand what a blessing motorway has been.

Blessing for the likes of you to drive your fancy cars in comfort. Very true. A specialist heart hospital would have been more beneficial for mian saab. Would you agree?

 

[SensiblePakFan]

Good thing is that it has already started,and projects under CPEC have more urgency put on them.

 

[ahsan17]

Explain to me specifically and hopefully with numbers how the Islamabad Lahore highway added to (1) GDP (2) Export growth (3) employment

I don't think any country will be able to quantify how one specific highway had an impact in the metrics you ask, except maybe direct employment.

With that being said, a highway network is more important than a single highway. The fruits of a network will be seen in the long term. It is usually never immediate. A highway network connecting Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad, Peshawar, Gwadar will have huge importance if Pakistan has to grow 8-10% for 10-30 years.

 

[Mamoon]

Blessing for the likes of you to drive your fancy cars in comfort. Very true. A specialist heart hospital would have been more beneficial for mian saab. Would you agree?

The Punjab Institute of Cardiology in Lahore was established in 1989, a good 8-9 years before the motorway.

There will always be more important priorities, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t work on secondary projects.

The alternative to the motorway, the G.T. road is a nightmare. It is not just about driving fancy cars in comfort; the motorway has reduced the driving time by almost half, which means it has also benefited people traveling between Lahore-Islamabad-Peshawar for urgent work as well patients who go from Peshawar to Islamabad and Lahore for treatment.

Anyway, as I said, I don’t expect overseas Pakistanis to understand this.

 

[Pete Rose]

I don't think any country will be able to quantify how one specific highway had an impact in the metrics you ask, except maybe direct employment.

With that being said, a highway network is more important than a single highway. The fruits of a network will be seen in the long term. It is usually never immediate. A highway network connecting Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad, Peshawar, Gwadar will have huge importance if Pakistan has to grow 8-10% for 10-30 years.

Islamabad is not a port or an industrial center. Connecting it to other cities has no value. Every capital expenditure usually has a feasibility study to justify it. I see no economic justification for this particular highway

 

[GBK_Fan]

Why is this project being awarded to China? There is no significant technical challenge in the article above that this needs to be handled externally.

 

[WebGuru]

Why is this project being awarded to China? There is no significant technical challenge in the article above that this needs to be handled externally.

This is part of CPEC and china will spend the money for now. It's a $8-10 billion project.

 

[GBK_Fan]

This is part of CPEC and china will spend the money for now. It's a $8-10 billion project.

Ok didn’t know this was part of CPEC. Still IMHO these low hanging contracts like laying down tracks should go to Pakistani contractors

 

[King-Misbah]

The Punjab Institute of Cardiology in Lahore was established in 1989, a good 8-9 years before the motorway.

There will always be more important priorities, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t work on secondary projects.

The alternative to the motorway, the G.T. road is a nightmare. It is not just about driving fancy cars in comfort; the motorway has reduced the driving time by almost half, which means it has also benefited people traveling between Lahore-Islamabad-Peshawar for urgent work as well patients who go from Peshawar to Islamabad and Lahore for treatment.

Anyway, as I said, I don’t expect overseas Pakistanis to understand this.

Well, this hospital in Lahore must be very mediocre if Mian saab is rushing to London. Are you not an overseas Pakistani too?

 

[Badsha]

Explain to me specifically and hopefully with numbers how the Islamabad Lahore highway added to (1) GDP (2) Export growth (3) employment

I dont know the numbers but it helps the country for sure.

High traffic isnt the only mark of success. Ask any diplomat, high stakes sales person or cooperation that travels a lot as to how beneficial the motorway is and you'll get your answer.

By the way, you must not have been through it on a Sunday. Its pretty crowded and all that traffic would have been on the GT road otherwise.

I know contractors, lawyers and professionals who use it 3 or 4 times a week. These professionals generate economy.

Btw I'm (one of the oldest) Imran Khan and PTI supporters on here before someone accuses me of something

 

[Badsha]

Islamabad is not a port or an industrial center. Connecting it to other cities has no value. Every capital expenditure usually has a feasibility study to justify it. I see no economic justification for this particular highway

I really dont think you understand value if you think Islamabad has none.

I dont have number but would be willing to bet that Islamabad is home to more business deals per capita than any other city

 

[Mamoon]

Well, this hospital in Lahore must be very mediocre if Mian saab is rushing to London. Are you not an overseas Pakistani too?

“Mian saab” can afford to go to London so why shouldn’t he? It is not possible yet to establish state of the art hospitals in Pakistan due to several constraints that are beyond corruption and all that crap.

Anyone who has the money and time goes to Europe, North America and even India for treatment.

No, I am not an overseas Pakistani. I was born and brought up in Pakistan, and have spent all but 3 years of my life in the country.

 

[King-Misbah]

“Mian saab” can afford to go to London so why shouldn’t he? It is not possible yet to establish state of the art hospitals in Pakistan due to several constraints that are beyond corruption and all that crap.

Anyone who has the money and time goes to Europe, North America and even India for treatment.

No, I am not an overseas Pakistani. I was born and brought up in Pakistan, and have spent all but 3 years of my life in the country.

Mian saab can not go any where as he is under bail and not allowed to leave the country. Stop trying to claim that mian saab is above the law.

Yes, you are currently an overseas Pakistani.

 

[Mamoon]

Mian saab can not go any where as he is under bail and not allowed to leave the country. Stop trying to claim that mian saab is above the law.

Yes, you are currently an overseas Pakistani.

I was temporary abroad from 2016 to 2018. That doesn’t qualify as an overseas Pakistani. I am back in Pakistan now, you can ask the mods to check my IP if you desire.

 

[Pete Rose]

I dont know the numbers but it helps the country for sure.

High traffic isnt the only mark of success. Ask any diplomat, high stakes sales person or cooperation that travels a lot as to how beneficial the motorway is and you'll get your answer.

By the way, you must not have been through it on a Sunday. Its pretty crowded and all that traffic would have been on the GT road otherwise.

I know contractors, lawyers and professionals who use it 3 or 4 times a week. These professionals generate economy.

Btw I'm (one of the oldest) Imran Khan and PTI supporters on here before someone accuses me of something

Yaar. I don’t mean to evoke a strong reaction about your intent. It’s just that we should argue from a place of facts as much as possible.

 

[slipcatch]

Again, arguing for the sake of the argument, and arguing over petty issues.

Highways would have been build regardless who was in ruling the government.

CPEC would have come to Pakistan regardless who was ruling the government.

What matters is and will always that which government benefit Pakistan in long run and I believe non-corrupt who would invest on not only optics (infrastructure) but education, health, and creating a culture where corruption is look down upon.

And in before someone make the argument that NS and Zardari government was more competent than current ruling Party.

 

[WebGuru]

And in before someone make the argument that NS and Zardari government was more competent than current ruling Party.

You are late to the part someone already mentiond:

It is not possible yet to establish state of the art hospitals in Pakistan due to several constraints that are beyond corruption and all that crap.

 

[Bewal Express]

You are late to the part someone already mentiond:

Did I read the 2nd statement right? The PPP stole a cool trilion from Sindh and the Nooras did the same in Punjab and the Centre, and obviously that isn't enough to build a half decent hospital. These idiots don't even have enough shame to even consider Corruption as a problem just because they are brought up on haraam. Hell awaits for these losers.

 

[Technics 1210]

Again, arguing for the sake of the argument, and arguing over petty issues.

Highways would have been build regardless who was in ruling the government.

CPEC would have come to Pakistan regardless who was ruling the government.

What matters is and will always that which government benefit Pakistan in long run and I believe non-corrupt who would invest on not only optics (infrastructure) but education, health, and creating a culture where corruption is look down upon.

And in before someone make the argument that NS and Zardari government was more competent than current ruling Party.

Spot on.

Investment in infrastructure is the first in the list.

You do not have to be corrupt but competent to understand this!

 

[slipcatch]

You are late to the part someone already mentiond:

And yet IK was able to do build state of the art hospital in Pakistan when he was not PM of Pakistan.