Pakistan Railways is set to launch a freight train service between Lahore and Russia starting next month, officials revealed on Sunday.
According to the details, the first freight train, consisting of 16 coaches, will depart from Lahore for Russia in July. Its final destination will be the Russian city of Astrakhan, and the train will travel via Iran, Turkmenistan, and Kazakhstan.
On its return journey, the train will bring various goods from Russia, Turkmenistan, and Kazakhstan back to Pakistan.
Initially, the train was scheduled to depart from Lahore on June 22, but its departure was delayed due to the Iran-Israel conflict.
Pakistan Railways Public Relations Officer Babar Raza stated that this initiative will help boost trade between South and Central Asia.
Pakistan’s inter-country train services have historically connected it with neighboring countries, mainly India, Iran, and, more recently, efforts toward Central Asia and Russia. Notable services included the Samjhauta Express and Thar Express with India, both suspended since 2019 due to political tensions. Freight services like the Istanbul–Tehran–Islamabad (ITI) train and the planned Lahore–Russia freight train aim to boost trade with Iran, Turkey, Central Asia, and Russia, marking a shift toward regional economic integration
