ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Iran have agreed to strengthen their railway links as part of broader efforts to enhance cooperation in trade, border connectivity, security, and economic development. This commitment emerged from a meeting held in Islamabad between Pakistan’s Minister for Railways, Muhammad Hanif Abbasi, and Iranian Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni.

According to Radio Pakistan, the discussions focused on improving bilateral railway cooperation and advancing regional integration. Hanif Abbasi emphasized the importance of the Main Line-3 (ML-3), which serves as the main railway corridor between Pakistan and Iran. He announced plans to start upgrading ML-3 within the current fiscal year, with a targeted completion date of December 2029. This upgrade aims to boost train speeds, line capacity, and operational efficiency, enhancing trade and regional connectivity among Pakistan, Iran, and neighboring countries.

In a move to facilitate cross-border trade, Pakistan has designated the Taftan Railway Station as a Customs Clearance Station at the request of Iranian Railways. This designation is expected to streamline customs procedures, shunting operations, and freight movement across the border.

The meeting also addressed the revival of the Islamabad-Tehran-Istanbul (ITI) Freight Train Service. Both countries agreed that restoring this corridor would significantly boost trade between Pakistan, Iran, and Türkiye while improving connectivity with Central Asia, Russia, and Europe.

In a related development, Iran’s Deputy Minister of Transport Mehran Ghorbani and Deputy Minister of Interior for Economic Affairs Mehdi Dousti met with Pakistan’s Minister of State for Finance and Railways, Bilal Azhar Kayani, in Islamabad. Their discussions covered economic cooperation, trade, and connectivity, further underscoring the commitment to strengthening ties between the two nations.