According to news reports from Islamabad on July 18th, the governments of Pakistan, Uzbekistan, and Afghanistan are prepared to sign a joint agreement to build the 760-kilometer UAP Railway connecting the three nations. The recent event trilateral working group finalized the Uzbekistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan (UAP) railway project’s route and specifics.
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Pakistan Railways Chairman Syed Mazhar Ali Shah led the Pakistan delegation, while Alhaj Bakhtul rehman Sharaft, Director General of Afghanistan Railways Authority, led the Afghan delegation. Davron Dekhkanov, head of the Ministry of Investment, Industry, and Trade’s Transport Department, represented Uzbekistan.
According to the most recent information, the railway connection will pass through Termiz, Uzbekistan, via Mazar-i-Sharif and Logar in Afghanistan before reaching Pakistan via the Kharlachi frontier crossing in Kurram. The meeting of the trilateral working group was the group’s second gathering since January.
In addition, the Ministry of Railways stated that the UAP railway project would be constructed to facilitate regional, transit, and bilateral trade between neighbouring nations. In addition to this, the railway initiative will improve interpersonal relations throughout the entire region. The railway line will facilitate both passenger and freight services, contributing to the region’s economic development.
In addition, according to Uzbekistan, the 760-kilometer railway will considerably reduce cargo delivery times between Uzbekistan and Pakistan, possibly by five days, and cut transportation costs by at least 40%. By 2027, it is anticipated that the project will be completed, and trains will be able to transport up to 15 million tonnes of cargo annually.
Several years ago, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Uzbekistan also signed a roadmap strategic plan. The project seeks to construct a 573-kilometer-long Trans-Afghan railway connecting Central Asia with ports on the Arabian Sea. This agreement contains provisions for directing a joint expedition to examine the route and its terrain, as well as a preliminary project feasibility study.