Pakistan, Azerbaijan fast-track rail ties

July 19, 2025 (MLN): Pakistan and Azerbaijan have agreed to establish joint working groups (JWGs) to deepen economic cooperation and fast-track bilateral connectivity, with a strategic focus on rail and trade infrastructure, according to an official statement following a high-level meeting on Saturday.

The session, chaired by Minister of State for Railways and Finance Bilal Azhar Kayani, convened senior officials from multiple government agencies, including the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC), National Logistics Corporation (NLC), Maritime Affairs, and the State Bank of Pakistan.

Kayani reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to enhancing rail-based trade with Azerbaijan, aligning with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s broader vision to modernize the national railway network and leverage it for regional freight and logistics integration.

The Secretary Railway Board, Muhammad Yousuf, delivered a comprehensive presentation on the network’s current capacity and its scalability to handle expanded cross-border trade.

Discussions also touched on the trilateral rail agreement between Pakistan, Uzbekistan, and Afghanistan, highlighting its relevance to broader regional connectivity ambitions.

The meeting marked a step forward in Pakistan’s bid to reposition itself as a logistics hub for Central Asia, leveraging infrastructure partnerships and policy alignment to attract regional trade flows.

Copyright Mettis Link News