The freight train connecting Pakistan, Iran and Turkey started operations after a gap of 10 years.
Highlight
- Goods train service connecting Pakistan, Iran and Turkey has resumed today
- It will improve regional connectivity, unlock trade potential between 3 countries
- All three countries are also planning to start passenger train service on this route in future.
A freight train service connecting Pakistan, Iran and Turkey, which was suspended for more than 10 years, has been restarted to improve regional connectivity and unlock trade potential between the three countries, media reports said on Wednesday.
The three countries are also planning to start passenger train service on this route in future.
railway Minister Azam Khan | Swati, along with Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi and Prime Minister’s Commercial Advisor Abdul Razak Dawood, inaugurated the Islamabad-Tehran-Istanbul (ITI) freight train at Margalla railway station here on Tuesday.
Ambassadors of Turkey, Iran, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan were also present on the occasion.
A senior railway official said the ITI freight train, which will operate every Tuesday, started its journey from Islamabad’s Margalla railway station towards its first destination in Zahedan, Iran, from where it would head towards Istanbul.
The first train from Islamabad to Istanbul was inaugurated on 14 August 2009.
Similarly, the first consignment from Istanbul reached Islamabad on 13 August 2010 according to Pakistan Railways.
So far, eight trains were sent from Pakistan to Turkey, the last of which departed from Lahore on 5 November 2011.
Since the start of this service in 2009, Turkey has sent six trains to Pakistan, the last of which was unloaded here on 9 December 2011.
The freight train, with a capacity of up to 80,000 tonnes, has left for Europe’s largest city with a dozen containers, and will complete the voyage in about two weeks, making it faster and more economical than the sea route. would become a viable option. The Express Tribune reported. It will cover a distance of 1,990 km in Pakistan, before crossing the Taftan border to extend 2,603 km in Iran.
The report said the train will travel about 1,850 km through Turkey before reaching its final stop in Istanbul.
The Dawn newspaper said the service would play an important role in improving the economy and lives of citizens of ECO member states by increasing economic efficiency and reducing the cost of doing business.
At Tuesday’s ceremony in Islamabad, Qureshi described the “historic” development as a move that would open new avenues for trade and business in the region and beyond.
The railway minister echoed Qureshi’s sentiments before saying: “The passenger train service will also start soon. We have opened our trade routes and this is a huge opportunity for the importers and exporters.”
Dawood said regional connectivity was one of the very important pillars of Pakistan’s strategic trade policy framework and the resumption of ITI freight train operations was pleasant.
Turkish Ambassador Mustafa Yurdkul expressed the hope that the train service will not stop in Istanbul, but will travel to Europe, helping all regional countries to bounce back with these ties in the post-COVID-19 era.
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