Federal Minister for Railways Muhammad Hanif Abbasi announced key updates on regional railway cooperation, aimed at enhancing trade links across South and Central Asia.

The Islamabad–Tehran–Istanbul (ITI) freight train service will be revived by the end of this year, facilitating smoother cargo movement between Pakistan, Iran, and Turkey.

Abbasi said Kazakhstan has completed preparations to lay the missing rail link up to Chaman, while Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, and Pakistan have finalized an agreement to strengthen regional railway collaboration.

Domestically, Pakistan Railways is also upgrading critical infrastructure. The Asian Development Bank will invest in the Karachi–Rohri railway track, and improvements to the Nokundi–Rohri section will ease the transport of minerals to seaports.

Abbasi emphasized that these initiatives are part of broader efforts to modernize Pakistan Railways into a more efficient and freight-friendly institution.