Trans-Afghan railroad hailed as game-changer


Business & Economics

Trans-Afghan railroad hailed as game-changer

PESHAWAR (Pajhwok): The trans-Afghan rail project, linking Afghanistan, Uzbekistan and Pakistan, has been hailed as a game-changer for the region’s future.

A trilateral meeting on the five billion dollars project concluded in the Uzbek city of Termez on Saturday, media reports said on Sunday.

The participants attached great importance to the 600km railway link and appreciated the Uzbek government for organising the talks.

Deputy Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation Akbar Jan Polad represented Afghanistan at the meeting,          Dawn reported.

Governor of Surkhandarya region Bobolov To’ra Abdievich, Minister of Transport of Uzbekistan Ilkhom Makhkamov and Deputy Minister of Investments and Foreign Trade Choriyev Otabek Bobomuratovich also gave their input on the project.

Pakistan’s Minister of State and Board of Investment (BoI) Chairman Mohammad Azfar Ahsan also attended the talks on the 600km railway link.

The railway track, connecting Termez, Mazar-i-Sharif, Kabul and Peshawar, will boost trade in the region, especially for Afghanistan and Uzbekistan.

“This trans-Afghan railway project is the most economical and shortest route connecting Central Asia with the Pakistan’s Karachi, Gwadar and Qasim ports,” the BoI chairman said.

Called the ‘heart of Asia, Afghanistan connects different regions, mainly Central Asia, via Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, South Asia via Pakistan and the Middle East, via Iran.

PAM Monitor/mud

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