--- title: "PM directs railway reforms and commercialisation to fund ML-1 upgrade" description: "Most outlets reported that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif directed the swift upgradation of the Main Line-1 (ML-1) railway and the introduction of corporate-style reforms in Pakistan Railways. Several also highlighted his instruction to utilise railway land for commercial purposes to fund the project, with some noting the two-week deadline for submitting a comprehensive strategy. While the framing was largely consistent, a few outlets, such as Profit and ProPakistani, placed stronger emphasis on the commercial financing aspect, using terms like \"monetise land assets\" and \"commercial use of billions worth of railway land.\"" url: https://harzaviya.com/stories/12822-ml-1-should-be-financed-partly-through-commercialisation site: HarZaviya language: en --- # PM directs railway reforms and commercialisation to fund ML-1 upgrade business · updated 8 Oct 2026, 9:39 AM PKT · 7–8 Oct 2026 · 10 articles from 6 outlets **HarZaviya summary** — how 6 outlets covered this, generated automatically from their headlines and excerpts: > Most outlets reported that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif directed the swift upgradation of the Main Line-1 (ML-1) railway and the introduction of corporate-style reforms in Pakistan Railways. Several also highlighted his instruction to utilise railway land for commercial purposes to fund the project, with some noting the two-week deadline for submitting a comprehensive strategy. While the framing was largely consistent, a few outlets, such as Profit and ProPakistani, placed stronger emphasis on the commercial financing aspect, using terms like "monetise land assets" and "commercial use of billions worth of railway land." ## Same story from 6 outlets Each outlet's own headline, most recent first — read any at its source. - **Daily Times** — [PM directs swift upgradation of ML-1, corporate-style reforms in railways](https://dailytimes.com.pk/1564075/pm-directs-swift-upgradation-of-ml-1-corporate-style-reforms-in-railways/) · 8 Oct 2026, 9:39 AM PKT > Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday directed the authorities concerned to expedite work on the upgradation of Main Line-1 (ML-1) and implement corporate-style reforms in Pakistan Railways to make it strong and economically self-sufficient. The prime minister, chairing a review meeting on reforms in Pakistan Railways here, said that ML-1 should be constructed on a […] - **ProPakistani** — [PM Approves Commercial Use of Billions Worth of Railway Land to Fund ML-1](https://propakistani.pk/2026/10/08/pm-approves-commercial-use-of-billions-worth-of-railway-land-to-fund-ml-1/) · 8 Oct 2026, 9:19 AM PKT · 68% identical wording to the newest filing > Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has directed authorities to use railway land for commercial purposes to help fund the upgradation of… Read More - **Business Recorder** — [Financing ML-1 project: PM orders unlocking commercial potential of railway land](https://www.brecorder.com/news/40443220/financing-ml-1-project-pm-orders-unlocking-commercial-potential-of-railway-land) · 8 Oct 2026, 5:56 AM PKT · 84% identical wording to the newest filing > ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday directed authorities to accelerate work on the Main Line-1 (ML-1) railway upgrade and introduce corporate-style reforms to make Pakistan Railways financially sustainable. Chairing a review meeting on reforms in Pakistan Railways, the prime minister also approved a plan to use commercial projects on railway land to secure bank financing for t... - **Profit** — [PM orders commercial financing plan for ML-1 upgrade](https://profit.pakistantoday.com.pk/2026/10/07/pm-orders-commercial-financing-plan-for-ml-1-upgrade) · 7 Oct 2026, 11:10 PM PKT · 70% identical wording to the newest filing > Shehbaz directs Railways to monetise land assets, seek bank funding and submit implementation plan within two weeks - **Associated Press of Pakistan** — [Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif chairs a meeting regarding reforms in Pakistan Railways and Upgradation of ML-1](https://www.app.com.pk/photos-section/prime-minister-muhammad-shehbaz-sharif-chairs-a-meeting-regarding-reforms-in-pakistan-railways-and-upgradation-of-ml-1-3/) · 7 Oct 2026, 5:08 PM PKT · 84% identical wording to the newest filing - **Dawn** — [PM Shehbaz directs acceleration of ML-1 project upgrade, corporate-style reforms in railways](https://www.dawn.com/news/2035382/pm-shehbaz-directs-acceleration-of-ml-1-project-upgrade-corporate-style-reforms-in-railways) · 7 Oct 2026, 2:05 PM PKT · 92% identical wording to the newest filing > ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday directed authorities to accelerate work on the Main Line-1 (ML-1) railway upgrade and introduce corporate-style reforms in Pakistan Railways. The ML-1 project aims to upgrade and modernise key infrastructure to enhance freight and passenger connectivity from Karachi to Peshawar. Presiding over a meeting on Pakistan Railways on Wednesday, the... ## Part of a bigger story Other stories whose coverage resembles this one, nearest first. "% related" compares whole stories, not single articles — see [what the percentages mean](https://harzaviya.com/methodology). - [Shehbaz and ADB vice president discuss early groundbreaking of ML-1](https://harzaviya.com/stories/6125-pakistan-adb-agree-to-set-up-working-group-for-ml-1-project) · 5 Sep 2026 · 9 outlets · 2 developments · 82% related - [Ahsan Iqbal calls for modernisation of Pakistan Railways' Main Line-1](https://harzaviya.com/stories/11158-ahsan-calls-for-complete-ml-1-upgrade-to-strengthen-pakistan) · 29 Sep 2026 · 6 outlets · 80% related - [Government reviews financing for Rohri-Multan ML-1 railway section](https://harzaviya.com/stories/5268-rs450b-rohri-multan-ml-1-section-enters-financing-review) · 29 Aug 2026 · 3 outlets · 76% related - [PM Shehbaz directs railway ministry to improve safety and facilities](https://harzaviya.com/stories/11984-pm-directs-measures-to-improve-railway-safety-track) · 2 Oct 2026 · 4 outlets · 74% related - [ADB pledges support for ML-1 railway modernisation](https://harzaviya.com/stories/11628-adb-vows-to-move-flagship-ml-1-railway-project-forward) · 1 Oct 2026 · 6 outlets · 2 developments · 73% related 10 articles from 6 outlets, 7–8 Oct 2026. 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