ISLAMABAD (APP): Parliamentary Secretary Railways Ashiq Hussain Shah on Wednesday informed the National Assembly that the up-gradation of Main Line (ML-1) from Karachi to Peshawar was included as early harvest project, under the framework of China – Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) adding that its 1st phase from Karachi-Lahore would complete in 2018.
Responding to various questions during Question Hour, he said that the 2nd phase of ML-1 would be completed by 2020.
He said that project envisaged raising of speed to 160 KMPH in most of its length (120 KMPH in some bits between Lalamusa – Peshawar, restricted due to geographical constraints).
Ashiq said around 70 per cent of bossiness of railways was on ML-1 routes.
To a supplementary question, he said currently, there was no proposal to run a bullet train.