MOSCOW: The Russia-Pakistan freight rail deal has entered final negotiations for two-way cargo services linking Moscow with Karachi and Faisalabad, Russian Ambassador Albert P. Khorev said.
Negotiators are finalising an agreement covering freight-related services, Khorev told Russian newspaper Izvestia in an interview published on August 8.
They are also identifying companies in countries along the proposed routes that could transport commercial cargo. Khorev did not announce a launch date or name any prospective operators.
The ambassador said regional geopolitical tensions caused repeated delays during 2025 and early 2026.
Belarus could also join the freight project, according to Khorev. However, neither government has announced a formal participation agreement with Minsk.
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Pakistan and Russia laid the groundwork for railway cooperation in Saint Petersburg on June 7, 2024. They signed a memorandum during the 27th Saint Petersburg International Economic Forum.
The Pakistan government’s statement said the memorandum covered railway upgrades, corporate cooperation and international cargo transport.
Federal Minister for Railways Muhammad Hanif Abbasi and Russia’s trade counsellor reaffirmed their interest during talks in Islamabad on June 15, 2026.
Abbasi highlighted investment and joint-venture opportunities in railway infrastructure, according to Radio Pakistan.
