Federal Minister for Railways Muhammad Hanif Abbasi Thursday said that the Karachi Port-Kazakhstan railway connectivity a mega initiative that would open new avenues for trade, transit and regional integration.
During a meeting with Ambassador of Kazakhstan Yerzhan Kistafin in Islamabad, focusing on strengthening regional connectivity and enhancing bilateral cooperation in the railway sector, the minister said Pakistan Railways’ regional connectivity initiative as a highly important and strategic project under Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif’s vision to link Pakistan with Central Asia through an integrated rail network.
He said significant progress has been made on the proposed Pakistan-Kazakhstan railway connectivity, including the preparation of a plan to establish a direct rail link from Karachi to Central Asia.
“This comprehensive railway project, reflecting the Prime Minister’s vision, will serve as a milestone for the entire region,” Abbasi said.
The minister said that the President of Kazakhstan is likely to visit Pakistan on February 3, during which a formal Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) will be signed to advance the project.
According to the Ministry of Railways, the Pakistan-Kazakhstan railway connectivity project is estimated at $7 billion and is planned to be completed within a record period of three years. The proposed rail corridor will connect Pakistan with Afghanistan, Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan via Chaman, establishing a comprehensive rail network linking South Asia with Central Asia.
The minister emphasized that direct railway connectivity with Central Asia would prove to be a game changer for the region and a significant milestone for Pakistan’s economy, facilitating trade, transit and people-to-people contacts across the wider region.