TASHKENT: Government delegations of Uzbekistan, Pakistan and Afghanistan have signed a roadmap for the construction of a landmark rail link following trilateral talks in Tashkent, the Uzbek Ministry of Investments and Foreign Trade said Wednesday.
The 600-km Mazar-i-Sharif-Kabul-Peshawar railway project will open Pakistani seaports to the Central Asian and Eurasian railway systems, significantly increasing cargo flows and also reviving the region’s historical role as a bridge linking Europe and Asia, the ministry said in a statement. The implementation of the project will also create unique opportunities for ensuring peace and stability in Afghanistan, stimulating the progressive economic growth of this country by creating tens of thousands of new jobs, it said.
Meanwhile, the delegations agreed to conduct a joint expedition to survey the route and investigate the terrain conditions, as well as a preliminary feasibility study for the project, including possible finance mechanisms. Uzbekistan and Afghanistan have no direct access to international seaports and the realization of the trans-Afghan railway project will significantly reduce the time and cost of goods transportation between the countries of South and Central Asia, analysts said.
Earlier, Pakistan and Uzbekistan on Monday resolved to enter into Preferential Trade Agreement for increasing the bilateral trade and promote trade liberalization.–Agencies
