China agrees to fund Uzbekistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan railway project

By Islamuddin Sajid

ISLAMABAD (AA) - China has agreed to fund the long-anticipated Uzbekistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan railway project, Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said on Thursday.

Speaking to reporters upon returning from a three-day visit to China, Dar said it is time to begin work on the strategic infrastructure project aimed at boosting regional trade and connectivity.

"I discussed the Uzbekistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan railways project with the Chinese side, and they in principle agreed to fund it," Dar said.

He added that officials from the three participating countries are expected to meet next month to finalize project details.

The joint protocol for the Trans-Afghan project, which aims to connect Uzbekistan and Pakistan's railway networks through Afghanistan, was signed in Islamabad in July 2023. It is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2027, with trains carrying up to 15 million tons of goods per year by 2030.

The 760-kilometer (472-mile) railroad is expected to reduce cargo delivery times between Uzbekistan and Pakistan by about five days and cut transportation costs by at least 40%, according to estimates.

Dar also confirmed that China, Pakistan, and Afghanistan have agreed to extend the multibillion-dollar China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project into Afghanistan.

The $64 billion CPEC project is a flagship component of China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). It connects China’s northwestern Xinjiang province with Pakistan’s Gwadar port in Balochistan through a network of roads, railways, and pipelines for cargo, oil, and gas transportation.