Pakistan Railways has entered into a Freight Forwarding Contract with Russian Railways Logistics (RZD Logistics), establishing a framework for cooperation in international freight transportation and multimodal logistics services, the government said on Monday.

Pakistan has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening bilateral cooperation with the Russian Federation in the railway sector to enhance regional connectivity, facilitate international trade and modernise Pakistan Railways.

Under the initiative, both sides agreed to launch a Pakistan-Russia Pilot Container Freight Train aimed at promoting rail-based trade and strengthening connectivity between Pakistan, Russia and Central Asian countries.

However, the commencement of the pilot train could not take place as scheduled due to the regional conflict. Both Pakistan Railways and RZD Logistics remain committed to the project and are continuing coordination for launching the pilot train as soon as the regional situation permits.

The proposed cooperation is expected to enhance rail-based trade and regional connectivity while promoting sustainable and cost-effective freight transportation through multimodal logistics solutions.

It will also facilitate the exchange of technical expertise and best practices in railway freight operations, strengthen international freight services and improve overall logistics efficiency.

The initiative is further expected to contribute to the modernisation and financial sustainability of Pakistan Railways by expanding its international freight operations and integrating the country more closely with regional and international trade routes.