Market Overview
Pakistan Railways operates an extensive but ageing national network. The Main Line 1 (ML-1) upgrade project, a key component of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), is planned to modernise the 1,872-km Karachi-Peshawar main line, enabling higher speeds and improved freight capacity. The Lahore Orange Line Metro, the country's first mass transit rail project, opened in 2020 and was built with Chinese financing and contractors. Karachi is developing a mass transit network with multiple lines planned. Pakistan's rail sector is seen as critical for economic integration under CPEC, connecting Chinese-funded ports and economic zones to the interior of the country. Chinese rolling stock, signalling, and infrastructure companies are deeply involved in Pakistan's rail development.