ISLAMABAD: Pakistani Energy Minister Awais Leghari has said that Russia and Pakistan are set to be linked by a freight train line next year as bilateral talks expand between the two countries.
The statement comes months after Pakistan’s ambassador to Moscow, Muhammad Khalid Jamali, expressed Islamabad’s readiness to join the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC), a 7,200-kilometer route connecting Russia and Central Asia with India via Iran, at the International IT Forum in Khanty-Mansiysk.
In an interview with Russian broadcaster RT this week, Leghari said the initiative would mark an important milestone in enhancing connectivity between Pakistan and Russia.
“As early as March next year, the first South-North train trial run will transport goods from Russia to Pakistan via Iran and Azerbaijan,” he told the broadcaster.
Leghari said talks were also ongoing between Moscow and Islamabad regarding the establishment of direct air service between the two countries.
“We are looking at these three or four major initiatives,” he said. “We are looking at linkage of Pakistan and Russia through airline services, the aviation sector, that makes it easier for our people to interact with each other, businesses to flourish and interact and communicate with each other.”
Pakistan and Russia, once Cold War rivals, have warmed up to each other in recent years through regular business and trade interactions as Islamabad seeks to enhance its role as a transit hub for landlocked economies in Central Asia.
Both countries this week signed eight memorandums of understanding (MoUs) in the fields of health, trade and education, the Pakistani energy ministry said, amid Islamabad’s efforts to boost foreign investment and enhance cooperation to stabilize its fragile economy.
The agreements were signed during the 9th Inter-Governmental Commission meeting in Moscow between Pakistan and Russia, with Leghari leading the Pakistani side at the talks to explore bilateral trade options.
Islamabad’s ties with Russia also saw significant improvement last year after Pakistan started purchasing Russian crude oil at a discount. Geopolitical tensions triggered fuel prices to more than double in Pakistan last year, forcing the country to opt for cheaper sources of fuel.
In 2023, Pakistan’s bilateral trade with Russia reached $1 billion. This was an increase from 2022, when Russia exported $505 million to Pakistan and Pakistan exported $75.8 million to Russia.
Islamabad says Russia and Pakistan to launch freight train service next year
https://arab.news/85c6s
Islamabad says Russia and Pakistan to launch freight train service next year
- Awais Leghari says the North-South freight train service will connect Pakistan to Russia via Iran and Azerbaijan
- Cold War rivals Pakistan, Russia have warmed up to each other in recent years through regular interactions
Pakistan’s PIA partners with UK, Canadian rail services to facilitate passengers
- The development comes weeks after a Pakistani consortium, led by Arif Habib Group, clinched a 75 percent stake in PIA
- The move will offer seamless onward travel to PIA passengers to eight cities in Canada and over 50 in the UK, airline says
ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has partnered with rail service providers in the United Kingdom (UK) and Canada to offer seamless onward travel for its passengers, the recently privatized airline said on Tuesday, adding the move is aimed at improving convenience for its customers.
The move comes weeks after a Pakistani consortium, led by Arif Habib Group, clinched a 75 percent stake in PIA for Rs135 billion ($482 million) after a competitive bidding process, in a deal that valued the airline at Rs180 billion ($643 million).
The sale marked Pakistan’s most ambitious effort in decades to reform the debt-ridden airline that had accumulated over Rs784 billion ($2.8 billion) in losses. The government said it aimed to end decades of state-funded bailouts and support the airline’s revival.
The airline’s move to provide both air and train travel facility to passengers on a single ticket is aimed at attracting more customers by providing them improved facilities at their doorstep, according to the Pakistani carrier.
“The air-to-rail partnership is a major step toward building PIA’s network on digital and modern lines,” the airline said. “This facility will save passengers’ time.”
Passengers arriving in Toronto on PIA flights will be able to continue their journey to eight major cities in Canada through PIA’s partner rail service, according to the airline.
Passengers traveling to the UK cities of Manchester and London via PIA will be able to access more than 50 cities through rail service.
“PIA passengers can get tickets to their destination from all PIA booking offices and registered travel agents,” it said. “Tickets can also be booked via PIA’s official website and PIA’s mobile application.”
