Pakistan government on Tuesday launched the Islamabad-Tehran-Istanbul (ITI) freight train project to promote economic activity in the region and boost regional connectivity.
The service was launched from Margalla Railway Station on December 21. The train included at least 13 containers that are carrying pink salt and dates apart from other cargo for Turkey. Two freight forwarders, Maxtel Logistics and Haroon Brothers are helping carry out the trade.
The trial run of the Islamabad-Tehran-Istanbul (ITI) train was launched in August 2009 as a project under the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO), a 10-nation Asian trade bloc.
“The ITI freight train service will play a vital role in improving economies and lives of citizens of the member states of ECO by maximizing economic efficiency and reducing the cost of doing business” Ministry of Railways officials said.
Azam Khan Swati, Minister for Railways, said that the ITI train service “will open the doors for business and connectivity along the region.” He hinted that the passenger service will also start soon.
“Today is a day which will be long remembered for regional trade and connectivity for which the commerce ministry has been continuously working,” Abdul Razak Dawood, prime minister’s adviser on investment and commerce, said.
Pakistan’s foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi termed it a welcoming move towards regional connectivity and hoped that the passenger train would soon be launched on the same route.
Ambassadors of Turkey, Iran, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan were also present at the ceremony.
Turkish Ambassador Mustafa Yurdakul asked the Pakistan railway minister to not stop the trains service at Istanbul station but go all the way to Europe as it would benefit all connecting countries.
ITI train service
The train covers more than 6,656 kilometers since it travels 2,570 kilometers in Iran, 2,000 kilometers in Turkey and about 1,900 kilometers in Pakistan.
ITI freight train will be operated regularly on Tuesday of every week. The first freight train had 13 wagons initially. But the train has the capacity to carry 20 containers of 20 feet.
The current train service will go from Islamabad (Pakistan) to Zahedan (Iran) from where the Turkish train will lift and transport the goods to Istanbul (Turkey) as the Pakistani railway track gauge is narrower than standard ones in Europe.
Boost regional trade
The railway corridor aims to boost economic cooperation among Pakistan, Iran and Turkey first and with the other ECO member countries afterward. Besides Pakistan, Turkey and Iran, these countries will benefit from the ITI project: Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.
Rail route
Total track length: 6656 km
Iran: 2600 km
Turkey: 1950 km
Pakistan: 1990 km
Key facts
- Cargos: 20 containers of 40 feet
- Shortest land route connecting South Asia with Europe
- Estimated travel time is 12 days as compared to 30-40 days via sea