Pakistan Railways plans to launch an international freight train service to Russia by March 15 to enhance trade with Iran, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan and Russia.

The announcement came from Pakistan Railways Freight CEO Sufiyan Sarfaraz Dogar, who urged the business community, notably All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APTMA) members, to support the new service by committing to containerised cargo shipments.

The freight train will operate from Qasim International Container Terminal and Pakistan International Container Terminal, offering container capacity options of 22 and 44 tons. Taftan station in Pakistan will serve as a key entry point for goods along this route, with most customs-related issues already addressed to ensure smooth trade operations.

This rail service will allow Russia to export oil, natural gas, steel and industrial goods to Pakistan while enhancing market access for Pakistani exporters in Iran, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan and Russia for products such as textiles, food, and agricultural commodities like rice, wheat, and cotton.

This initiative stems from a memorandum of understanding signed between Pakistan and Russia at the 27th Saint Petersburg International Economic Forum in June 2024. The goal is to establish a cost-effective trade route linking South Asia with Central Asia and Russia.

APTMA Chairman Kamran Arshad underscored the expanding prospects of Pakistan’s textile industry, which has set an ambitious goal of reaching $50 billion in exports within the next five years.

He proposed automating freight handling, setting up dry ports along the route, implementing a barter trade system with Russia similar to the Pakistan-Iran model, and improving banking channels.

APTMA backs the new freight service, expecting it to boost regional trade, improve logistics, lower costs, and create a more dependable trade network between Pakistan and Central Asia.