Pakistan and Russia have agreed to jointly develop an extensive rail and road network to link South Asia with Central Asia and Russia, aiming to give landlocked nations direct access to warm-water ports.
The move is seen as a strategic step toward speeding up infrastructure projects across the region to enhance trade and promote economic integration.
The agreement was reached during a meeting between Pakistan’s federal minister for communications Abdul Aleem Khan and Russian deputy minister of transport Andrey Sergeyevich Nikitin on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) ministerial conference in Tianjin, China, reported PTI.
The goal is to position Pakistan as a key transit hub by improving logistical routes and trade corridors extending toward Russia and Central Asia.
Minister Khan shared that Pakistan is upgrading its transport infrastructure with measures such as digitisation, barrier-free motorways, mandatory e-tagging and extensive CCTV surveillance. These reforms aim to streamline cross-border trade and improve regional connectivity.
Deputy minister Nikitin acknowledged the value of Pakistan-Russia collaboration in reshaping regional trade and confirmed Russia’s commitment to joint transport and infrastructure initiatives with Islamabad.
In a related regional development, Pakistan and Afghanistan have agreed to expedite the Uzbekistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan (UAP) rail project.
Pakistan’s deputy PM Ishaq Dar and Afghanistan’s acting FM Amir Khan Muttaqi discussed the project over a phone call, agreeing to work towards finalising a framework agreement.
The railway project is seen as a crucial step toward connecting Pakistan with Central Asia through Afghanistan, enhancing regional interconnectivity and trade prospects.
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Read MoreThe TOI Business Desk is a vigilant and dedicated team of journalists committed to delivering the latest and most relevant business news from around the world to readers of The Times of India. The primary focus of the TOI Business Desk is to keep a watchful eye on the global business landscape, covering a wide spectrum of industries, markets, economic trends, in-depth analysis, exclusive reports and breaking stories that impact businesses and economies. With a mission to provide valuable insights and updates, the desk ensures that TOI readers are well-informed about the ever-changing and dynamic world of commerce and can navigate the complexities of the business world.
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