Freight train from Pakistan reaches Turkey despite extreme weather conditions

Despite the heavy snow to Istanbul, a third train carrying goods from Pakistan arrived in Turkey, where the ITI (Islamabad-Tehran-Istanbul) freight train, which had been dormant for nearly a decade, was successfully reopened.

Officials say extreme weather has delayed a trip that began in Islamabad on January 23. The train is expected to arrive its destination by Wednesday.

According to a senior Pakistan Railways official, two more international freight trains will leave the Aza Khel dry port, about 153 kilometres from Islamabad, for Istanbul in the next ten days, most likely on February 21.

“The third freight train carrying high-value items, as requested by Turkey, has also entered Turkey and will arrive in Istanbul by Wednesday,” stated an official in charge of ITI operations when contacted by Dawn on Saturday.

“The train passed through Pakistan’s Lahore, Khanewal, Bahawalpur, Sukkur, Spenzand, Sibi, Nushki, Taftan, and Iran’s Zahidan and Tehran,” he explained.