WNAM MONITORING: Russia and Pakistan are set to launch their first direct freight train service in March 2025 through Turkmenistan, aimed at boosting bilateral trade, Pakistan’s Energy Minister Awais Leghari announced.
Leghari stated in an interview with TASS that the inaugural freight train is scheduled to depart from Russia by the end of March. The service will operate along the eastern route of the International North-South Transport Corridor, bypassing Afghanistan and traversing Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, and Iran.
This announcement follows a briefing from Russian officials on December 10 about preparations for the railway link, which will initially run in a test mode. An agreement to establish a freight base was reached earlier in December.
Oleg Poleyev, acting general director of Russian Railways Logistics, highlighted that the new route will significantly reduce transit times and increase trade volumes between the two countries. The initiative is expected to enhance Pakistan’s role as a transit hub for regional trade, aligning with broader economic initiatives.
The most significant recent collaboration between Turkmenistan and Pakistan is the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) gas pipeline project, which is designed to facilitate the transportation of natural gas from Turkmenistan to South Asia.
