ISLAMABAD: Uzbekistan, a landlocked nation, has initiated the commencement of the Trans-Afghan Railway Line project, estimated at a cost of $5 billion. This strategic undertaking is designed to establish connectivity between Uzbekistan and Pakistan's major seaports, which holds the promise of enhancing regional trade and fostering trilateral cooperation, as stated in a release on Saturday.


Once realized, this project will bestow landlocked countries in the region with sea access, bolster trade activities, and lead to considerable time and cost savings.


Given the geographical challenge of Central Asia's distant proximity to open seas, railways have emerged as a pivotal facet of economic planning for these countries. Notably, Uzbekistan, which is doubly landlocked, has been actively engaged in formulating these propositions for several years.


On February 2, 2022, these three nations convened in Tashkent to formulate a roadmap for a 600-kilometer-long rail project that would interlink Pakistan, Uzbekistan, and Afghanistan (Mazar-i-Sharif-Kabul-Peshawar railroad).


Muhammad Azfar Ahsan, Minister of State and Chairman of the Board of Investment (BOI), remarked, "This Trans-Afghan Railway project constitutes the most efficient and concise route linking Central Asia with Pakistani ports of Karachi, Gwadar, and Qasim." He expressed this sentiment during the Trilateral Working Meeting held in Termez, Uzbekistan.


He further emphasized that Pakistan's geography makes it the shortest, most cost-effective, and simplest land route for Central Asia to connect with the Arabian Sea.


"Afghanistan serves as the 'heart of Asia,' forging connections among various regions—linking Central Asia through Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan, South Asia via Pakistan, and the Middle East via Iran," Ahsan elaborated.


In terms of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), Ahsan added that its expansion could potentially incorporate Afghanistan into the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).


"Connectivity stands as a defining characteristic of the contemporary economy. Central Asia must develop southern trade routes to complement the existing northern, eastern, and western pathways," the minister further expounded.


During the session, participants deliberated on the existing conditions of cargo transportation in Pakistan and proposed measures to amplify the volume of trade among the three countries.


Ahsan commended the Uzbek government for orchestrating this trilateral meeting, fostering enhanced connectivity and cooperation among the involved nations.


He voiced optimism that this forum would mark a new era of global economic interlinkage, proving to be a transformative force for the region.


The meeting was attended by other dignitaries, including Bobolov To’ra Abdievich, Governor of Surkhandarya region; Ilkhom Makhkamov, Minister of Transport of Uzbekistan; Akbar Jan Polad, Deputy Minister of Transport & Civil Aviation of Afghanistan; and Choriyev Otabek Bobomuratovich, Deputy Minister of Investments & Foreign Trade.

Source: The News