ISLAMABAD: Negotiations are underway to finalize the schedule for Pakistan\u2019s first pilot freight train to Russia, which would carry 16 containers of rice in its inaugural shipment. The project, launched under the 9th Intergovernmental Commission (IGC), aimed to connect Karachi Port with Moscow via Iran, Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan. A contract between Pakistan Railways and Russian Railways (RZD) was signed in May 2025, paving the way for this landmark service. According to documents available with Wealth Pakistan, the rice containers were prepared for dispatch in June this year, but departure was delayed due to the regional situation. Talks are now ongoing to set a new date for the train\u2019s departure. The proposed corridor would stretch a little over 7,000 kilometers, with freight expected to reach Moscow in 20\u201325 days at a cost of around USD 5,600 per container. The service will not only provide a faster, more cost-effective alternative to sea transport but also open new markets for Pakistani agricultural exports. The pilot train is seen as the first step toward establishing a regular overland route to Russia and Central Asia, thereby strengthening Pakistan\u2019s trade footprint in the region. DNA<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
ISLAMABAD: Negotiations are underway to finalize the schedule for Pakistan\u2019s first pilot freight train to Russia, which would carry 16 containers of rice in its inaugural shipment. The project, launched under the 9th Intergovernmental Commission (IGC), aimed to connect Karachi Port with Moscow via Iran, Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan. A contract between Pakistan Railways and Russian […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-505229","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-business"},"yoast_head":"\n