Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Wednesday urged the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to expedite processing of financing for Pakistan’s Main Line-1 (ML-1) railway project, describing it as one of the government’s flagship infrastructure initiatives during a meeting with senior ADB leadership at the bank’s headquarters in Manila.
Dar held the meeting on the sidelines of the 33rd ASEAN Regional Forum Ministerial Meeting in Manila, where Pakistan is engaging regional partners through bilateral meetings.
According to the Foreign Office, Dar held a meeting at the ADB headquarters with ADB Vice President (South, Central and West Asia) Yingming Yang, ADB Vice President (Sectors and Themes) Fatima Yasmin, ADB director generals and officials, along with Pakistan’s Executive Director to the ADB, Nashita Mohsin.
The two sides “reaffirmed their more than six-decade-long Pakistan-ADB partnership and explored ways to further strengthen cooperation in infrastructure, climate resilience, regional connectivity, and sustainable economic growth,” the Foreign Office said.
During the meeting, Dar “appreciated ADB’s steadfast support for Pakistan’s development priorities and underscored the importance of continued collaboration.”
The deputy prime minister also highlighted the “Main Line-1 (ML-1) railway project as one of the Government’s flagship infrastructure initiatives and a priority of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.”
According to the FO, Dar “emphasised ADB’s continued support in leading the consortium lending for this project and requested an expedited processing timeline.”
The FO said the ADB vice presidents reaffirmed the Bank’s commitment to working closely with Pakistan to advance the project, recognizing its transformative role in modernising Pakistan’s railway network, strengthening connectivity, and supporting sustainable economic growth.
Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Tariq Bajwa, Pakistan’s Ambassador to the Philippines Dr Asima Rabbani, and senior officials from both sides also attended the meeting, the statement added.
In an earlier statement, the FO said that Dar was received by Director General for the Central and West Asia Department Leah Gutierrez at the ADB headquarters and signed the bank’s Visitors’ Book upon arrival.
He was later hosted at a working lunch by Pakistan’s Executive Director to the ADB, Nashita Mohsin, along with a group of Pakistani professionals holding senior leadership positions across the institution.
The FO said the meeting “provided an opportunity to exchange views on the ADB’s evolving development agenda, its partnership with Pakistan, and the important role being played by Pakistani professionals in advancing the Bank’s work across a broad range of sectors and regions.”
During the interaction, Dar “appreciated their valuable contributions to the ADB’s mission and acknowledged the distinction they bring to Pakistan through their leadership and expertise at the institution,” the statement said.
The deputy prime minister also congratulated Nashita Mohsin on assuming her responsibilities as Pakistan’s Executive Director to the ADB and wished her success “in advancing Pakistan’s engagement with the ADB,” according to the Foreign Office.
Meeting with Russian FM
FM Dar also held a meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov ahead of the ARF Ministerial Meeting and “reviewed Pakistan-Russia bilateral relations and reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthening cooperation in trade, energy, connectivity, and other key areas, as well as enhancing coordination at multilateral forums.”
