CPEC: Pakistani parliamentary committee on railways directs to complete ML-1 project at the earliest

LAHORE, Aug 25 (Gwadar Pro) - A Pakistani parliamentary committee on Tuesday afternoon directed to complete the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC)’s Main Line-1 (ML-1) railway project at the earliest as Chinese loan had already been approved.

The meeting of the National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Railways was held under the chairmanship of Mueen Watto, in committee Room Pakistan Railways Headquarters, Lahore to discuss the agenda items.

“The committee discussed the present status of ML-I project which is pending for long but the committee has always been briefed by the railways that the project will be started soon in every briefing,” said an official statement issued after the meeting.

It added: “Lastly, Ministry of Railways briefed the committee that Chinese loan has been approved but despite that there is no ground progress. The committee recommended that the said project may be launched at the earliest for its timely completion.”

The National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Railways showed its reservation on the poor implementation of the previous recommendations made in a different meeting including the ML-1. Further, the committee also reiterated the issue of regularization of staff, clearance of retiring benefits and dues of railways employees. The committee discussed the report of the Sub-Committee and approved its recommendations.

Members of the National Assembly Sheikh Rashid Shafique, Amjad Ali Khan, Tahir Iqbal,  Engineer Sabir Hussain Kaim Khani, Chaudhry Muhammad Hamid Hameed, Ali Pervaiz,   Muhammad Khan Daha, Nauman Islam Shaikh, Ramesh Lal, Muhammad Bashir Khan, Pir Syed Fazal Ali Shah Gillani, Dr. Muhammad Afzal Khan Dhandla and Nusrat Wahid attended the meeting.