Pakistan will inaugurate its first cargo railway line to Russia on June 22, with a train departing from Lahore, Railway Minister Muhammad Hanif Abbasi announced at a press conference on Tuesday.

The project is part of an initiative to modernize Pakistan Railways and expand its logistics operations. According to Abbasi, it aligns with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s vision of enhancing connectivity with Central Asia, including Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan.

“We are not just building a railway, we are creating an economic corridor,” the minister stated.

The route will follow the eastern branch of the International North–South Transport Corridor, linking Pakistan with Iran, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, and southern Russia. The expected transit time is between 20 and 25 days.

The train will travel 2,001 kilometers through Pakistan to the Iranian border, where it will undergo a gauge change and cargo transfer in the city of Zahedan. From there, the route will pass through Sarahs in Turkmenistan, Bolashak and Atyrau in Kazakhstan, and end in Astrakhan, Russia.

According to official data, the first phase will involve the shipment of 15–16 TEU carrying approximately 500 tons of cargo. The volume is expected to increase to 31 TEU after freight rates are finalized.

Pakistan exports leather goods, medical equipment, and textiles to Russia, while importing wheat, fertilizers, dried vegetables, and petroleum products. The direct railway link is expected to significantly boost bilateral trade.

ORIENT