Federal Minister for Railways Muhammad Hanif Abbasi has announced that the long-awaited Islamabad–Tehran–Istanbul (ITI) freight train service will officially resume by the end of this year, marking a major step toward improving regional trade and connectivity.
The service will create a vital trade corridor between Pakistan, Iran, and Turkey, enabling faster cargo transport across South and Central Asia.
Abbasi revealed that Kazakhstan has completed work on extending the missing rail link up to Chaman, while Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, and Pakistan have finalized a regional cooperation agreement to strengthen railway integration across borders.
Domestically, Pakistan Railways is working on several major infrastructure projects. The Asian Development Bank will invest in the Karachi–Rohri railway track, while upgrades to the Nokundi–Rohri section will help transport minerals to ports more efficiently.
Abbasi added that these developments are part of the government’s broader vision to modernize Pakistan Railways, making it freight-friendly, cost-effective, and regionally competitive.
