In a significant development, Pakistan's Ministry of Railways is in advanced negotiations with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) for a $2 billion loan aimed at financing the Karachi-Rohri section of the Main Line-1 (ML-1) railway project. This update was disclosed during a meeting led by Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal, where it was noted that the total estimated cost for this railway segment is around $2 billion, with ADB expected to contribute approximately $1.2 billion. The ADB is also collaborating with the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) and the European Investment Bank (EIB) to secure additional financing. Iqbal emphasized the need for a detailed financing roadmap, particularly regarding potential Chinese participation, and directed the National Information Technology Board (NITB) to operationalize a digital CPEC Dashboard within 15 days to monitor project progress effectively (Profit by Pakistan Today, February 16, 2026; Business Recorder, February 15, 2026).