QUETTA: Pakistan Railways has approved a major upgradation of the of the 600-kilometer long Nokundi–Sibi railway track, officials said, highlighting the strategic importance of the Reko Diq project.
Divisional Superintendent of Railways, Imran Hayat Khan, told reporters that the railway tracks will be imported from abroad.
He said work on the Nokundi–Sibi railway track upgradation is scheduled to begin in February next year, with an estimated cost of $360 million.
Khan added that the project is expected to be completed within three years, aiming to enhance transport efficiency and support the mining and industrial activities linked to the Reko Diq development.
According to reports, the project is expected to be completed within three years, by 2028.
During an interview with the private news channel, Divisional Superintendent of Railways, Imran Hayat Khan, said that the decision was made in view of the strategic importance of the Reko Diq mining project, which is located in the same region.
He further said that the new railway lines will be imported from abroad to replace the existing 607-km-long Nokundi–Sibi track. The financing for the project will be secured through a loan from the Asian Development Bank (ADB).
Regarding the Quetta–Taftan railway line, which is over 100 years old, is in a deteriorated condition, Imran Hayat Khan said that the Quetta – Taftan line also requires attention for future development needs.
This rail upgrade is expected to play a key role in improving regional connectivity and supporting major economic initiatives, especially in the mineral-rich areas of Balochistan.
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is also considering to provide financial support worth $2 billion for upgrading a strategic 500-kilometer railway track connecting Karachi to Rohri, a project critical for Pakistan’s Reko Diq copper mining operation.
According to reports, the proposed upgrade will modernize bridges and railway tracks between Karachi and Rohri near Sukkur, enabling faster and more efficient train operations. At Rohri, the railway line will connect to a branch line coming from the Reko Diq copper mine, facilitating the transportation of raw copper ore to the port.
The upgrade is deemed urgent, as the project is essential for the export logistics of copper extracted from the Reko Diq mine, operated by Canada’s Barrick Mining Corporation. Earlier this week, ADB announced $410 million in financial aid specifically for the Reko Diq project. The ADB President is scheduled to visit Islamabad next week to further discuss the initiative.
Tim Cribb, Project Director of Reko Diq, told Reuters that the government and Barrick are working together to secure funds for upgrading the railway branch from the western border to Rohri. The mining project is expected to begin production in 2028, with an estimated annual output of approximately 200,000 metric tons of copper ore. Reko Diq is considered one of the world’s largest untapped copper reserves and represents Pakistan’s largest foreign investment in recent years.
