Country Partnership Strategy for 2026-2030
By Levant.pk Staff | September 5, 2026 | 4 min read
ISLAMABAD — Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif pressed for early groundbreaking on the Main Line-1 (ML-1) railway project on Friday. The $10 billion upgrade of the Karachi-Peshawar rail corridor is Pakistan’s flagship infrastructure project. PM Shehbaz raised the issue during a breakfast meeting with Asian Development Bank (ADB) Vice President Yingming Yang.
The meeting took place in Islamabad. It was Yang’s first official visit to Pakistan in his current role. According to the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), both sides reviewed Pakistan’s long-running development partnership with the ADB. They also discussed priorities under the new Country Partnership Strategy (CPS) 2026-2030, a $10 billion framework the ADB board approved in March.
ML-1 Called “Vital National Infrastructure Priority”
PM Shehbaz called the 1,670-kilometer ML-1 corridor essential for three reasons: modernizing freight logistics, strengthening regional trade, and supporting major industrial projects. The PMO statement described the long-delayed project as a “vital national infrastructure priority.” As a result, both sides discussed how to move quickly toward groundbreaking.
This push builds on real progress already made. Pakistan has secured $2 billion in ADB financing for the Karachi-Rohri section of ML-1, and that work is now underway. In addition, Islamabad made a separate request just this week for more ADB financing to cover the project’s remaining phases. That request includes guarantees and private-sector partnership structures.
Reform Progress and Broader Cooperation
PM Shehbaz praised the ADB for its consistent support in delivering transport, urban infrastructure, and public service projects across Pakistan. He pointed to a difficult economic turnaround, achieved through fiscal, structural, and governance reforms. As evidence, he cited stable outlook upgrades from Fitch, Moody’s, and S&P — a sign of restored investor confidence.
The prime minister also highlighted efforts to clear administrative bottlenecks. Dedicated execution task forces are now working to speed up capital deployment on major projects. Beyond ML-1, the two sides explored broader cooperation too. Topics included private-sector and SME support, energy and food security, export competitiveness, and emerging technologies like AI and IT.
The meeting ended with a shared commitment: turn the CPS 2026-2030’s priorities into real, high-impact results. Ultimately, both sides said the goal is to drive sustainable growth and improve living standards across Pakistan.
Why This Matters
This meeting raises the ML-1 conversation to the highest level of government. Earlier in the week, the same discussion happened at a technical level, between Economic Affairs Minister Ahad Khan Cheema, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, and the ADB delegation. Now, a direct prime ministerial push signals something bigger: Islamabad wants to move past financing talks and start actual construction. This matters because ML-1 has faced years of delay, including its earlier removal from CPEC’s Chinese financing framework.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Country Partnership Strategy 2026-2030?
It’s a $10 billion, five-year development framework between Pakistan and the ADB. The ADB board approved it in March 2026. It outlines priority sectors and financing plans for the partnership.
How much has Pakistan secured for ML-1 so far?
Pakistan has secured $2 billion in ADB financing for the Karachi-Rohri section of the ML-1 corridor. That section is currently under implementation.
Who is Yingming Yang?
Yingming Yang is the ADB’s Vice President for South, Central and West Asia. This was his first official visit to Pakistan in that role.
Sources: Dawn — PM Shehbaz discusses need for ML-1 railway project’s early groundbreaking · The Express Tribune — PM Shehbaz, ADB vice-president discuss early groundbreaking of ML-1 · Business Recorder — Pakistan, ADB discuss early groundbreaking of ML-1
