Carriage train operations to Turkey to be revived by December

Minister for Railways says for the purpose of reviving the rail link, the Quetta-Taftan track will be upgraded.

ISLAMABAD: The Federal railways minister Khwaja Saad Rafique on Wednesday said Pakistan was looking to revive the old train links between Islamabad and Istanbul including the carriage operations, and upgrade the Quetta-Taftan track for the purpose.

According to a release, the decision was made in a meeting between Rafique and the Turkish Ambassador Babur Girgin in Islamabad on Wednesday. It was decided that the carriage operations will be restored by December 2013.

Rafique said for the link to work, Pakistan Railways plans to upgrade the Quetta-Taftan Railway track. However, Pakistan will require the cooperation and investment of Turkish rail companies for this purpose.

The two discussed Pakistan’s vision of a modern, advanced and well-equipped railway in the hour long meeting. The also discussed issues of regional connectivity and how the rail link will help facilitate regional economic connectivity, save considerable time in exporting goods from one country to another.