Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif directed relevant authorities to connect the Reko Diq mining area with Pakistan’s railway network by 2028 to support future transportation and cargo needs.

Chairing a high-level meeting on the upgradation of Pakistan Railways and the extension to Reko Diq, the prime minister instructed the formation of an inter-ministerial committee to oversee financing for the railway’s development and expansion.

The committee will be tasked with presenting recommendations on funding requirements for the modernization of Pakistan Railways and its extension to the mineral-rich region of Reko Diq.

During the meeting, officials briefed the prime minister on progress related to the upgradation of the Main Line-1 (ML-1) and Main Line-3 (ML-3) railways, as well as broader plans to enhance Pakistan Railways to meet future transportation and cargo demands.

Highlighting the importance of railways, PM Sharif said, “Pakistan Railways serves as the backbone of the country’s economy and communication. It is a cheap, fast, and environmentally friendly mode of transport.”

He added that linking Reko Diq with the railway network would spur development in Balochistan’s mining and mineral sector and create new employment opportunities for local communities.

The meeting was attended by Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, Minister for Economic Affairs Ahad Khan Cheema, Minister for Maritime Affairs Junaid Anwar, Minister of State for Railways Bilal Azhar Kayani, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Tariq Fatemi, and other senior government officials.