29.03.22
Uzbekistan launched the construction of the Trans-Afghan Railway last week. This is reported by the Pakistani edition of The News International.
The highway project, estimated at $5 billion, will connect Central Asia with the ports of Pakistan. Thanks to him, goods from the region will be able to get to the world ocean faster and cheaper, the publication notes. On the weekend of March 26-27, the Uzbek-Afghan-Pakistani trilateral group met in Termez to discuss issues of cooperation in the transport and logistics sector. The representatives of Pakistan expressed special gratitude for the meeting. "The Termez - Mazar-i-Sharif - Kabul - Peshawar railway can be a turning point for the future of the region," said the head of the Pakistan Investment Commission Mohammad Azfar Ahsan.
Afghanistan has long been called the "heart of Asia" because of its connecting role between parts of the continent, the official added. According to him, the new project will help the country join the Chinese Belt and Road project. Muhammad Azfar Ahsan stressed the importance of transport links for the modern economy. Central Asian countries need trade links in the southern direction — as an addition to the northern, western and eastern routes.
During the meeting, the problems with road transportation of goods between the three countries and possible solutions were also discussed. The topic of cargo transportation conditions through Pakistan and increasing mutual trade turnover was touched upon.
Following the meeting, memorandums and agreements were signed with 7 companies from Pakistan and Afghanistan, the press service of the Ministry of Transport said.
