Federal Minister for Railways, Muhammad Hanif Abbasi, recently met with Jiang Yi, Secretary General of the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce (ACFIC), alongside senior delegates from China’s transport, logistics, and aviation sectors. The meeting, held in Islamabad, focused on advancing technical collaboration and exploring investment opportunities across Pakistan’s railway infrastructure.
Both sides emphasized the importance of enhancing cross-border freight links to strengthen trade and economic integration. Minister Abbasi showcased Pakistan Railways’ ongoing modernization efforts and welcomed foreign and private sector participation in key development projects.
He shared updates on the Karachi–Rohri section, which is already backed by financing from the Asian Development Bank, and outlined future plans involving Chinese partnerships for strategic routes such as Rohri–Peshawar, Nokundi–Gwadar, and the ML-2 corridor connecting Attock to Rohri.
The Karachi–Peshawar line, now fully operational, plays a vital role in connecting Pakistan to Central Asia. Abbasi also highlighted the Islamabad–Tehran–Istanbul (ITI) corridor as a game-changing route for regional freight movement.
The Chinese delegation expressed strong interest in Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) models, particularly in freight and infrastructure development. They praised Pakistan Railways’ reform agenda and openness to collaboration, noting the potential for introducing advanced logistics systems and engineering standards.
Minister Abbasi reaffirmed Pakistan’s readiness to engage in BOT-based partnerships, aiming to elevate the country’s railway capabilities through innovation and international cooperation.