WANA (Dec 03) – Pakistan’s Minister for Railways announced that the Islamabad–Tehran–Istanbul (ITI) ECO freight train will resume operations on December 31, 2025, departing from the country’s capital.

 

Speaking on Tuesday, December 2, Hanif Abbasi told officials at the Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industry that Pakistan is strongly committed to expanding regional connectivity with the Islamic Republic of Iran.

 

He stated that, to facilitate this goal, Pakistan Railways plans to restore rail freight services by the end of the current year and urged the business community to capitalize on the new opportunities created by this development.

 

According to the minister, the revival of the ITI container train will begin on December 31, noting that the service will play a crucial role in strengthening regional trade.

 

Pakistani media outlets reported that one of the major technical challenges—the rail gauge difference at the Pakistan–Iran border—has now been addressed through upgraded transport facilities aimed at ensuring smoother cargo movement.

 

The resumption of the ECO freight train is viewed as the reopening of a strategic commercial corridor long regarded as a backbone of regional connectivity within the ECO (Economic Cooperation Organization).

 

Rail transport offers a cost-effective alternative to maritime routes and is expected to enhance Pakistan’s trade links with Iran, Turkey, and other key regional markets.

Pakistan to Relaunch ITI ECO Freight Train on December

Pakistan to Relaunch ITI ECO Freight Train in December. Social media/ WANA News Agency