Pakistan Asks ECO President for Help to Link Railways with Iran, Turkey

Islamabad is eyeing the help and cooperation of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) in restoring rail network among Islamabad, Tehran, Istanbul and central Asian countries.

Pakistan’s Federal Minister for Railways Sheikh Rasheed Ahmad told ECO Secretary General Hadi Soleimanpour on Wednesday that his country is giving priority to foreign investment and sought the cooperation of ECO in restoring rail network among Islamabad, Tehran, Istanbul and central Asian countries.

He made the remark in a Wednesday meeting with ECO Secretary General Hadi Soleimanpour, who agreed to enhance coordination between three counties in this respect.

During the meeting, Sheikh Rasheed briefed Soleimanpour on the ongoing mega railroad projects, including ML-2 and ML-3, as well as upgrading Quetta-Taftan railway track.

Soleimanpour, for his part, agreed to enhance coordination between Tehran, Ankara and Islamabad for the railway connection, and said Pakistan is an important member of ECO and its role for the development and prosperity of the region is commendable.

He highlighted that services of the ECO Trade and Development Bank could be utilized for financial partnership by its member countries.

“ECO development bank could be beneficial for financial partnership,” he added.

ECO Secretary General is visiting Pakistan on March 12-15, 2019. This is his first visit to Pakistan since he assumed office as the Secretary General of the Organization.

Earleir in mid-November, Rasheed Ahmad had again called for constructing a railway link between Iran and Pakistan through the Quetta-Taftan section as an imperative for expanding bilateral ties.

The Pakistani minister made the remarks during a meeting with Iranian Ambassador to Pakistan Mehdi Honardoost, who was invited to Sheikh Rasheed Ahmad's office in Islamabad.

Sheikh Rasheed Ahmad added that upgrading Quetta-Taftan railway would further enhance Pakistan-Iran relations. Iranian Ambassador also stressed upon importance of Quetta-Taftan section.

Both sides during the meeting agreed on mutual cooperation in Railways. It was also decided to constitute a technical committee of the two countries to resolve issues pertaining to railways.

Senior officials of Pakistan railways were also present in the meeting.

Quetta-Taftan Railway route is one of four main railway routes in Pakistan, operated and maintained by Pakistan Railways. The line begins from Quetta station and ends at Koh-e-Taftan station.

The total length of this railway line is 325 kilometers. There are 23 railway stations from Quetta to Koh-e-Taftan. The line then crosses into Iran and extends to Zahedan.

Earlier the government of Pakistan had invited Iranian companies to invest in country’s railway industry to improve rail systems of Pakistan.

source: FARS NEWS AGENCY