ISLAMABAD – Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have agreed to deepen cooperation on rail modernisation and regional connectivity, the Press Information Department (PID) said on Friday.
The understanding was reached during a meeting in Abu Dhabi between Minister of State for Finance and Railways Bilal Azhar Kayani and UAE Minister of Energy and Infrastructure Suhail Mohamed Al Mazrouei. Discussions focused on opportunities to upgrade Pakistan’s rail network to enhance trade, improve connectivity, and support sustainable economic growth.
Both ministers reaffirmed the strong bilateral ties between the two countries and expressed their shared commitment to advancing mutual prosperity through environmentally responsible transport solutions.
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The meeting was held on the sidelines of the Global Rail Infrastructure Conference and Exhibition (Sept 30–Oct 2), which gathered transport ministers, policymakers, and industry leaders from around the world to discuss the future of rail and infrastructure.
Earlier, Minister Kayani participated in a high-level ministerial panel on “Building Connected Nations: The Role of Transport and Infrastructure in Sustainable Development.” He stressed that infrastructure is central to economic prosperity, pointing to Pakistan’s achievements such as its extensive motorway network, which has improved freight movement and provincial connectivity.
Kayani also outlined Pakistan’s vision for transforming its railways into an efficient, reliable, and environmentally sustainable backbone of national transport. He highlighted the planned upgradation of the ML-1 and ML-3 railway corridors, describing them as critical for boosting regional trade and aligning Pakistan’s rail network with international standards.