Pakistan supports trans-Afghan railroad project

PESHAWAR (Pajhwok): Pakistan has reaffirmed full support for the early implementation of the trans-Afghan railroad project.

President Dr Arif Alvi voiced stout support for the project at a meeting with his Uzbek counterpart Shavkat Mirziyoyev late on Sunday.

The meeting took place on the sidelines of the 15th Economic Cooperation Organisation Summit in Ashgabat, the Associated Press of Pakistan reported.

Bilateral cooperation, with special focus on trade and economic relations and connectivity agenda, came up for discussion.

Dr. Alvi underlined the need for immediate humanitarian and economic assistance to Afghanistan to avert economic collapse in that country.

Afghanistan, Pakistan and Uzbekistan agreed to a roadmap for the construction of the 573-kilometre route from Mazar-i-Sharif to Peshawar via Kabul.

The project, with an estimated cost of $5 billion, will open Pakistani seaports on the Arabian Gulf to Uzbekistan and continue Afghanistan’s gradual integration into the Central Asian economic system.

The Pakistani president called for unfreezing of Afghanistan’s financial assets to help the war-ravaged country resolve its problems.

mud

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