HYDERABAD, July 23 — Pakistan and Iran are looking at reviving the Islamabad-Tehran-Istanbul (ITI) freight train service to promote greater regional connectivity and trade.
The issue was discussed during a meeting between Pakistan’s Railway Minister Muhammad Hanif Abbasi and Iranian Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni in Islamabad on Wednesday.
“Both sides agreed that the restoration of the ITI corridor would significantly enhance trade between Pakistan, Iran and Türkiye while improving regional connectivity with Central Asia, Russia and Europe,” a Pakistani government statement said.
The ITI cargo train service resumed in December 2021 after a decade-long gap but was suspended in 2022 over a host of issues, including logistical and operational problems.
The talks between Abbasi and Momeni focused on “enhancing bilateral railway cooperation, cross-border connectivity, regional integration, trade and economic collaboration,” the Pakistani statement noted.
Pakistan is upgrading its Main Line-3 (ML-3), which links Sindh and Balochistan and serves as the principal railway corridor connecting the country with Iran.
Work is expected to commence during the current fiscal year, with the project scheduled for completion by December 2029, Abbasi said.
Momeni said Iran is expected to complete the modernisation of the Zahedan–Mirjaveh railway line within a month and urged Pakistan to complete the standard-gauge rail line from Mirjaveh to Taftan in Balochistan to ensure seamless train operations across the border, the Iranian news agency IRNAreported.
