Key points
- Monthly freight train service agreed
- ITI seen as sea freight alternative
- Corridor boosts Eurasian trade connectivity
ISLAMABAD: Iran, Pakistan, and Turkiye have reached an agreement with the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) to revive regular freight services along the 6,540-kilometre Istanbul–Tehran–Islamabad (ITI) rail corridor, to reduce trade times and enhance regional competitiveness.
During a two-day meeting held in Islamabad, officials from the three countries, along with ECO Secretary-General Khusrav Noziri and senior representatives from Pakistan Railways, committed to removing tariff, customs, and logistical barriers that have previously hampered the corridor’s operation, according to Tehran Times. Officails said for landlocked Central Asian states, the route could provide vital access to Pakistani seaports.
A memorandum was signed outlining joint commitments to harmonised and competitive freight tariffs, reliable train schedules, full train loading at both ends, streamlined customs processes, and improved transshipment procedures at border crossings.
Key outcome
A key outcome of the meeting was the decision to operate at least one freight train per month along the ITI route. The journey—spanning 6,540 kilometres in under 10 days, roughly one-third the time required for maritime transport—is expected to reduce costs and expedite trade between the three nations.
Officials hailed the development as a major step towards bolstering regional transport cooperation and positioning the ITI as a viable, competitive route for Eurasian trade flows.
The ITI corridor was originally launched as a pilot project in 2009 under the ECO framework, intended as a strategic overland link connecting South Asia to Europe via Turkiye. Despite some activity over the years, regular operations were hindered by technical issues, inconsistent infrastructure, and a lack of tariff coordination.
The three nations maintain that the ITI has the potential to transform regional connectivity, offering a cheaper and faster alternative to sea freight.
The corridor could also integrate with the International North–South Transport Corridor (INSTC) and China’s Belt and Road Initiative, contributing to a broader Eurasian logistics network.
Turkiye sees it as complementary to its role as a key transit hub between Asia and Europe, while Iran, at the corridor’s centre, stands to gain through increased transit revenues and stronger regional trade amid efforts to diversify its economy.
