The Islamabad-Tehran-Istanbul train line project implemented by Pakistan, Iran and Turkey on Tuesday resumed its journeys via a train that started from “Margala” station in the capital, Islamabad.
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The train set off in a ceremony attended by Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi and Railways Minister Muhammad Azam Khan Swati.
And the ambassadors to Islamabad, Turkey, Ihsan Mustafa Yordaqul, and the Iranian, Muhammad Ali Hosseini, among other officials.
In his speech, Qureshi described this development as historic, stressing that this step will open new horizons for cooperation and trade in the region.
He pointed out that the project will not only encourage trade between the three countries, but will open new ways for trade with Europe.
For his part, Pakistani Railways Minister Swati said in statements, “This line connecting Turkey, Iran and Pakistan is very important to me and my country’s government.”
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He pointed out that the cost of transportation through this line is 50 percent better than the sea route.
He stressed that the train will reach Istanbul within 10 days, and that this period will also decrease by 3 days with the improvement of infrastructure.
He noted that the next step for transporting goods will be passenger flights.
In turn, Turkey’s Ambassador to Islamabad Yurdakul stressed the importance of resuming this project within the framework of the Economic Cooperation Organization.
He added, “This project has been on the agenda for a long time, and it will become a step that enhances trade and economic exchanges and bilateral cooperation between countries.”
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It is noteworthy that the project entered into force in 2009, and was stopped in 2011 due to delays in Pakistan.
The distance of the railway line in the aforementioned project is 6,543 km.
