Latest news with #ML1
Arab News
5 days ago
- Business
- Arab News
Pakistan mulls ADB role in CPEC's flagship Main Line‑1 railway upgrade
KARACHI: Pakistan is considering financial support from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) for the long-delayed Main Line‑1 (ML‑1) railway upgrade — part of the China‑Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) — as an ADB fact-finding team inspected a section of the track on Saturday, according to an official statement. ML‑1, a $6.7 billion upgrade of Pakistan's 1,687-kilometer Karachi–Peshawar rail artery, is central to CPEC. The overhaul, involving track doubling, advanced signaling and higher-speed trains, is expected to boost cargo and passenger capacity while easing the transport of trade goods to and from the country's southern ports. 'Experts from the Asian Development Bank inspected the Karachi to Rohri railway line today,' Pakistan Railways said in a statement. 'The Bank's Chief Transport Planner, Sangyoon Kim, conducted the 480-kilometer track inspection alongside the chief engineer (open lines) of Pakistan Railways.' 'ADB's fact-finding specialists will prepare a report on the readiness of the Main Line-1 (ML-1) project, following which a final decision regarding the project's financing will be made,' the statement added. ML‑1 underpins Pakistan's main rail connectivity, carrying a major bulk of the country's cargo and passenger traffic. The project was approved by the Economic Coordination Committee in 2020 but has repeatedly stalled amid funding hitches. Speaking to Arab News, Babar Ali Raza, spokesperson at the railways ministry, said ADB was currently only preparing the feasibility. 'The main financier is China,' he continued. 'The team conducting the inspection is assessing its own feasibility to determine whether ADB can provide financing or not.' 'This would be ADB's own financing,' he added, 'however much they want to contribute.' Pakistan and China have described CPEC as a 'game-changer' for growth. The corridor comprises multibillion-dollar infrastructure initiatives covering roads, energy and rail. The two countries are also striving for regional connectivity, with Pakistan actively pursuing economic diplomacy in the neighborhood and offering its southern ports to landlocked Central Asian countries for global trade.
Daily Record
27-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Record
Motherwell announce their first summer signing, despite no boss appointment
Lukas Fadinger joins the Fir Park club on a two-year deal Motherwell have made their first summer signing in midfielder Lukas Fadinger. The 24-year-old arrives in ML1 on a two-year deal, following a similar sting with Austrian Bundesliga club Rheindorf Altach, where he scored four goals in 61 games. Fadinger came through the ranks at Sturm Graz, debuting at just 17 years old. The midfielder then had loan spells at SV Lafnitz and Hartberg. Fadinger comes in despite Michael Wimmer's shock resignation as boss last week, with the club still to appoint a successor. He told club media: "I am so happy to be at this club. "We've been holding talks for a couple of months now, and to now finally say I'm a Motherwell player makes me very happy. "This move excites me, and it's a big step forward in my career. I'm already looking forward to the start of the new season and meeting all the fans."
BBC News
23-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
From 'knowing everything' to abrupt departure
When Michael Wimmer was appointed Motherwell manager on 17 February, it was a bit of a shock, certainly a surprise Fir Park exit 96 days later has caused even bigger German manager promised proactive football on his arrival, and he delivered it, to some extent. There was, without doubt, a notable change in the Steelmen's style from his predecessor Stuart Kettlewell's highlight of his 12 games in charge was a deserved 2-1 win at Ibrox on 1 March, where there was a confidence and swagger about the side. He too, of course, ensured their Scottish Premiership safety with relative ease, finishing eighth. During his short spell, Wimmer struggled to nail down his best XI, in no small part due to the large squad at his disposal - something the club will need to adress in the summer among other following what turned out to be his final home game in charge nine days ago - a commanding 3-0 win against Kilmarnock - Wimmer said he had "a perfect picture" and "knew everything" about his "brilliant team".Now the board will need to have a perfect picture of where to turn next. They are hunting for their fifth boss in under three years to helm a squad Wimmer himself said was "too big" and there's also the future of star midfielder Lennon Miller to was shaping up to be an exciting time in ML1 is now looking a little more nervy.
