Islamabad: The government will restart the Islamabad–Tehran–Istanbul (ITI) freight train service from December 31, Railway Minister Muhammad Hanif Abbasi announced. Talks on tradable goods, logistics, and operations are nearing completion. He said delays were caused by regional conflicts and administrative challenges.
Abbasi explained that the ITI service, part of the Economic Cooperation Organization’s regional connectivity plan, last operated in early 2022. Operations were suspended due to administrative, financial, and infrastructure issues, including floods and the collapse of the 140-year-old Hirok Bridge. The train will now resume after trade ministers finalize export and import arrangements.
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Officials noted that past disruptions included delayed payments to Turkish freight forwarders, slow customs clearance, high freight charges, and damaged rail tracks. Abbasi said the government is addressing these challenges to ensure smooth operations and sustainable trade connectivity.
The minister also shared plans to connect Pakistan with Kazakhstan via Chaman, complementing existing links with Uzbekistan. This expansion will allow Pakistan access to Central Asia, Russia, and Europe. Rehabilitation projects for the Rohri–Karachi and Rohri–Peshawar tracks are also in progress, with funding support from the Asian Development Bank.
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Abbasi highlighted that Karachi Railway Station has been modernized and expanded. The upgraded Shalimar Express will relaunch on November 7, followed by the Awam, Allama Iqbal, and Rehman Baba Express trains. Pakistan Railways also earned Rs4.5 billion through outsourcing luggage vans and express cargo services.