Iran and Turkey assure assistance to connect Pakistan Railway with 4 countries

Turkey and Iran have assured their full assistance to the Pakistan Railways for connecting with Iran, Afghanistan, Turkey and Russia, said federal minister for Railways Sheikh Rashid Ahmad.

He said this addressing the workers of Railways Workshop Mughal after inspecting the racks of Jinnah Express that would soon be launched as a new non-stop train between Lahore and Karachi.
The minister had recently returned from an official visit of Iran. He had recently said that Pakistan can access European and Central Asian markets through Iranian railway network. He had talked of connecting Pakistani Gwadar and Iranian Chabahar ports through railway links.
He had also been making statements that Pakistan Railways would also facilitate Zaireen (pilgrims) to travel via railway to reach Taftan and also hinted at train service from Pakistan to Mashhad.
However, practical steps have not yet been seen from the government of Pakistan on these oft-repeated statements also had been issued by the governments in past.