Feasibility Study for Pakistan-China Rail-link to be Ready this Year
'Pakistan Times' National News Desk

ISLAMABAD: Minister for Railways Sheikh Rashid Ahmed on Wednesday said that the feasibility study for developing rail-link between China and Pakistan was being conducted and would be completed within this year.

He said this link would provide Pakistan and China ample opportunities to explore vistas in economic and social sectors with European countries and Central Asian States.

The work on Quetta-Kandhar (Pakistan-Afghanistan) and Taftan-Zahidan (Pakistan-Iran) sections was already underway which would ultimately give boost to the economic ventures in this part of the South Asia and rest of the world, he said while talking to a delegation of a Chinese firm M/s China Industry Railways at the Ministry of Railways here.

A briefing was given to the Federal Minister for Railways where the Chinese firm expressed keen interest in supply of fast speed passenger coaches to Pakistan Railways.

The Minister was apprised that the firm established in 1908 has been supplying coaches to various railways in the European Countries besides to the Railways of China.

The minister was told that the coaches built by the firm could run between the speed of 250 to 300 Km per hour, which also meets the requirement of Pakistan Railways for running fast trains in different parts of the country.

The delegation also extended invitation to the Minister for undertaking a visit to their firm.

Sheikh Rashid Ahmed said that Pakistan and China enjoy strong brotherly and friendly relations which are deeper than an ocean and higher than Himalaya.

He welcomed the delegation and said that Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz during his upcoming visit to China would take up the matters pertaining to Pakistan Railways with the Chinese counterpart and other leadership of the time-tested friendly country.

He recalled that Pakistan Railways had already been using locomotives, passenger and freight coaches as no other country around the globe was ready to supply rolling stock of the specifications matching to the needs of Pakistan, at competitive prices.●