ISLAMABAD, Aug 29 (ABC): The government plans to upgrade an 884-kilometre railway link from Rohri to Nokundi to connect the mineral-rich Chagai region with global markets through Pakistan’s national rail network.
According to documents available with Wealth Pakistan, the project involves upgrading Main Line-3 (ML-3) from Rohri to Nokundi. It forms part of the Reko Diq Rail Connectivity Project.
The upgraded railway corridor will provide rail connectivity for mineral resources from the Chagai region and link the area with Main Line-1 (ML-1), facilitating access to domestic and international markets.
Pakistan Railways and Reko Diq Mining Company (RDMC) began coordination on the project in 2023. The initial work included joint site visits and technical studies.
The first meeting of the Pakistan Railways-RDMC technical, commercial and legal working groups took place on July 19, 2024.
$390m bridge financing arranged
The project moved forward in August 2025 when the prime minister approved a $390 million bridge financing arrangement by RDMC.
The approval, granted on August 8, 2025, paved the way for financing the implementation of the rail connectivity project.
On the same day, authorities also approved the PC-II for the detailed design of the track upgradation.
Following the approval, Pakistan Railways initiated the procurement process to engage a design consultant for the project.
The Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) subsequently approved the Rail Development and Bridge Financing Agreements related to the Reko Diq Rail Connectivity Project.
According to the documents, the $390 million bridge funding agreement and the Rail Development Agreement have since been executed with RDMC.
Active management phase underway
During the second Steering Committee meeting on March 30, 2026, RDMC informed the participants about the next phase of the project.
According to the company, the project would enter a 12-month active management phase lasting until June 30, 2027.
This phase will precede the expected start of physical construction work on the railway corridor.
The Central Development Working Party (CDWP) principally recommended the project’s PC-I on June 18, 2026.
The project will now require approval from the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC).
Groundbreaking expected in July 2027
According to the documents, groundbreaking for the 884km rail upgradation project is expected in July 2027.
The project will upgrade the existing ML-3 corridor between Rohri and Nokundi, creating improved railway connectivity for the mineral-rich western region.
The rail link is particularly important for the development of mineral resources in Chagai, which hosts major deposits including Reko Diq.
By connecting the region with ML-1, the upgraded corridor is expected to provide an important transportation route for moving mineral output towards domestic and international markets.
The project therefore represents a major rail infrastructure initiative linked with the development of Pakistan’s mineral resources and their integration with the country’s wider transport network.
