*ISLAMABAD:* The federal government, under Public Sector DevelopmentProgramme (PSDP) 2019-20, has released Rs360 million for the preliminarydesign (up-gradation and rehabilitation) of the Main Line-1 (ML-1) railwayproject, and for the establishment of a dry port near Havelian.
The ML-1 (Karachi-Peshawar) project is an important strategic part of theChina Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and the government has allocatedRs1.8 billion for its preliminary design in the year 2019-20, according tolatest data issued by the planning ministry.
Out of the total allocation of Rs13.5 billion under PSDP 2019-20, therailway ministry has so far received Rs1.34 billion for various developmentprojects.
According to details, an amount of Rs288 million was released for thereconstruction and rehabilitation of assets damaged during the 2010 floods.The government has earmarked Rs1.4 billion in this regard.
Similarly, the government released Rs114 million for the rehabilitation ofterminal facilities and dry ports, and Rs100 million for up-gradation andrenovation of different railway stations.
For the rehabilitation and procurement of 300 remanufactured tractionmotors, an amount of Rs80 million was released out of the total allocationof Rs400 million, whereas for the acquisition of land for railway corridorat Gwadar, an amount of Rs160 million was released out of the totalallocation of Rs800 million.