Pakistan, Iran to Strengthen Railway Links and Boost Regional Trade Connectivity

ISLAMABAD – Pakistan and Iran have agreed to deepen cooperation in the railway sector and enhance regional connectivity in a bid to strengthen trade and infrastructure links between the two neighboring countries. The development marks a renewed push to improve cross-border transport networks that have historically connected the two nations for over a century.

The agreement was reached during a meeting between Pakistan’s Federal Minister for Railways, Hanif Abbasi, and Iran’s Minister of Road and Urban Development, Farzaneh Sadiq, held on the sidelines of the Regional Transport Ministers’ Conference in Islamabad.

According to official reports, Minister Abbasi highlighted that Pakistan’s railway network has been connected to Iran’s system since 1917, emphasizing the importance of building on that legacy through stronger operational and infrastructure cooperation. He noted that bilateral relations between the two countries have seen “notable progress in recent years,” paving the way for greater collaboration in transport and logistics.

During the discussions, both sides explored ways to expand freight operations and improve cross-border linkages to facilitate smoother regional trade routes. Abbasi shared that Pakistan Railways was undergoing a comprehensive modernization drive aimed at improving efficiency and boosting regional commerce.

He also revealed plans to enhance freight transport from Karachi Port and confirmed that work would soon begin on the 884-kilometer Rohri–Kundi section, which connects Sindh to southwestern Balochistan an area seen as vital for improving trade access between Pakistan and Iran.

Officials said the two countries, which share a 900-kilometer border, are actively pursuing stronger cooperation in both transport and energy sectors as part of broader efforts to strengthen regional integration and promote economic growth.