• Pakistan, Afghanistan & Uzbekistan are to construct a $4.8 billion, 573 km railway line to connect Central Asia with Pakistani seaports, enhancing trade & tourism.
• Pakistan and Uzbekistan have also pledged to expand bilateral trade to $2 billion within four years.
A transformative new railway project is set to redefine trade and travel between Pakistan and Central Asia, promising to unlock vast economic potential across the region.
The proposed 573-kilometre (356-mile) railway will connect Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Uzbekistan, providing landlocked Central Asia with vital access to Pakistani seaports. The ambitious project, estimated at $4.8 billion, is expected to boost tourism, trade, and regional integration.
“We know that this is our future,” said Uzbekistan’s President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, emphasizing the railway’s importance for strengthening regional ties.
Despite political tensions following the Taliban’s return to power in Afghanistan and rising militancy along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, Pakistan has shown unwavering commitment to advancing the project, recognising its long-term economic benefits.
In a recent visit to Tashkent, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif and President Mirziyoyev signed an agreement to form a tripartite committee with Afghanistan to accelerate the project’s progress.
This railway is part of a larger vision to enhance connectivity between South and Central Asia. The corridor will extend beyond the region, linking land and sea routes to the UAE’s Jebel Ali port — one of the world’s busiest maritime hubs — offering Central Asian nations crucial access to global markets.
Highlighting Pakistan’s strategic position and developed port infrastructure, Uzbekistan’s Ambassador to Islamabad recently described Pakistan as a key gateway for Central Asia’s trade ambitions.
Bilateral trade between Pakistan and Uzbekistan surged to $404.5 million in 2024. Building on this momentum, both nations have pledged to expand trade to $2 billion within four years, signing agreements to strengthen economic ties.
The two countries are set to collaborate across industries such as agriculture, pharmaceuticals, machinery, minerals, textiles, and leather — with plans to export finished products to international markets.
In a further move to boost connectivity, Islamabad and Tashkent have agreed to expand airlinks, with new flights scheduled between Karachi and the historic Uzbek cities of Samarkand and Bukhara.
