Quetta–Kandahar train service on cards
beijing — Minister for Interior, Planning, Development and Reforms, Ahsan Iqbal, said on Thursday that Pakistan and Afghanistan are planning to start a railway service from Quetta to Kandahar with Chinese cooperation.
“A plan to start fast train with speed from 250km to 350km from Peshawar to Karachi via Lahore in near future is also being considered,” he said in an interview referring to his meeting with Chairman, China Railway Construction Corporation, Meng Fengchao, here.
The minister said that the ML-1 railway project from Peshawar to Karachi is being upgraded at a cost of $8 billion and on completion of this project the speed of trains will be increased from existing 80km per hour to 160km. Ahsan said that a plan to connect Gwadar port with railway network and to start a direct train service form Quetta to Peshawar also came under discussion with the Chinese authorities.
He said that modern railway engineering institutes will be set up in Pakistan with the cooperation of China to impart relevant training to our engineers, technicians and other human resources for the sustainability of the railway upgradation projects.
He said upgradation of the railway is one of the largest portfolios in infrastructure development under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPRC).
The minister said during his upcoming meeting with the chairman of National Development and Reforms Commission (NDRC) of China, he will review the progress on the ongoing projects under CPEC and as well as approval for projects of next phase.
“Now Pakistan and China are cooperating with each other in the field of human resource development and under a long-term plan, the cooperation in technology, agriculture and poverty alleviation will also be discussed,” he added.
Responding to a question regarding Boao Forum for Asia annual conference, he said the prime minister of Pakistan led the delegation of Pakistan and held important meetings with the world leaders and entrepreneurs on the sidelines of the forum.