ISLAMABAD: Kazakhstan and Pakistan have decided to work together more closely on a planned railway route that would connect Pakistan with Central Asia. The proposed network would extend through Chaman, close to the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, and connect Karachi Port with Kazakhstan via Afghanistan and Turkmenistan. Regional connectivity and railway cooperation were the main topics of a high-level consultation between the Kazakhstani ambassador and Federal Minister for Railways Muhammad Hanif Abbasi at the Ministry of Railways. Both sides highlighted the economic and commercial advantages of the train connections between Pakistan and Central Asia throughout the discussion.
According to the Railways Minister, this project has been acknowledged as extremely strategic under the Prime Minister’s Regional Connectivity Vision and is anticipated to be a landmark for the entire region. According to him, the proposed network would extend through Chaman, close to the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, and connect Karachi Port with Kazakhstan via Afghanistan and Turkmenistan. According to officials, preparations for the proposed route have already been finished. It is anticipated that the Pakistan-Kazakhstan Rail Connectivity Project will be finished in three years and will cost approximately $7 billion. The project is expected to represent a turning point for Pakistan’s economic development and a game-changer for the region.
On February 3, 2026, the President of Kazakhstan is scheduled to visit Pakistan and sign the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). In addition to being crucial for the railway industry, the Minister of Railways stressed that this project is important for improving trade contacts throughout the region and opening up new opportunities for economic growth.
