ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday directed the authorities concerned to connect the Reko Diq mining project in Balochistan to the railway network by 2028, aiming to support future transportation and cargo needs.

Chairing a meeting on Pakistan Railways’ upgrade and Reko Diq linkage, PM Shehbaz ordered the formation of an inter-ministerial committee to oversee financing for the railway’s development and extension to Reko Diq.

The committee will present recommendations on the required funding.

During the meeting, officials briefed the prime minister on the upgrade of ML-1 and ML-3 railway lines and the overall development of Pakistan Railways.

PM Shehbaz emphasised the railway’s importance, calling it “a backbone for the country’s economy and communication”.

“Pakistan Railways is a cheap, fast and environment-friendly source of transportation,” the prime minister said. He added that linking the railway to Reko Diq would boost Balochistan’s mines and mineral sector and create new employment opportunities for local residents.

Mr Sharif stressed the urgency of the railway link, noting that Reko Diq’s joint venture shareholders have approved the project’s updated feasibility study and conditionally approved Phase-1 development capital, pending up to $3 billion in project financing.

The project targets first production by the end of 2028.

Meeting with legislators, minister Later, PM Shehbaz met members of the National Assembly Sardar Shamsher Ali Mazari, Abdul Qadir Khosa and Iftikhar Nazir to discuss issues in their constituencies and the country’s overall political situation.

Federal Minister for Public Affairs Unit Rana Mubashir Iqbal and Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Talha Burki also attended the meeting.

Additionally, Minister for Kashmir Affairs, Gilgit-Baltistan and State and Frontier Regions Engineer Ameer Muqam met the prime minister to discuss matters related to his ministry and the broader political situation.

Published in Dawn, June 18th, 2025