$7bn rail connectivity project with Kazakhstan to be finalised in Feb

ISLAMABAD: To ink an agreement on Pakistan–Kazakhstan rail connectivity, the President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Kemeluly Tokayev is scheduled to visit Pakistan on February 3, 2026.

This was stated by the Ambassador of Kazakhstan to Pakistan, Yerzhan Kistafin during a meeting with Federal Minister for Railways Mohammad Hanif Abbasi here on Thursday. The participants of the meeting discussed the matters related to Pakistan–Kazakhstan rail connectivity focusing on regional connectivity and railway cooperation.

The network will also extend through Chaman, connecting Afghanistan, Turkmenistan, and Kazakhstan comprehensively. The Pakistan–Kazakhstan Rail Connectivity Project is a USD 7 billion initiative and is expected to be completed within a record period of three years.

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The project is anticipated to be a game-changer for the region and a milestone for Pakistan’s economic growth.

The President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Kemeluly Tokayev is scheduled to visit Pakistan on 3rd February 2026. The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) will be formally signed during the visit, further strengthening railway cooperation between the two countries.

The Minister of Railways emphasised that this project is not only pivotal for Pakistan’s railway sector but also plays a key role in enhancing trade relations across the region and creating new avenues for economic development.

During the meeting, both sides discussed the projects connecting Pakistan to Central Asia via rail, highlighting their economic and trade benefits.

Under the Prime Minister’s Regional Connectivity Vision, this project has been recognised as highly strategic and is expected to serve as a milestone for the entire region. Federal Minister for Railways, Muhammad Hanif Abbasi, stated that this initiative marks a historic advancement in Pakistan’s railway sector and will open new avenues for trade and regional linkages.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2026