Islamabad, September 5 (INP): Pakistan can be a beneficiary of BRI’s economic fortunes as Chinese companies are proposing an extension of China-Europe Freight Rail from Kashgar, China inland city to Gwadar, port city of Pakistan.  “We expect there can be a rail network from Kashgar to Gwadar as it will benefit both China and Pakistan,” said Li Tao, Publicity department of China-Europe Railway Express Xi’an Assembly Line, according to Gwadar Pro.

During interaction with Pakistan’s media delegation in Xi’an, Li said that logistics between the two countries relys on a route from Kashgar to Pakistani cities through road transportation, but such bilateral trade volume driven by roadways is low and scanty.  Compared to rail,  road transportation is quite expensive, difficult and slow due to traffic congestion and other road-related hiccups.

Most of Chinese companies are eager to see expansion of China-Europe Freight Rail from Kashgar to Gwadar, he further said. “The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), introduced in 2013, bolstered the China-Europe freight train service. The initiative enhanced trade and connectivity between China and countries along the ancient Silk Road, including Europe.  Consequently, the China-Europe freight train service has become a critical part of  BRI, facilitating trade and fostering economic ties between the two regions,” he mentioned.

According to China State Railway Group Co., Ltd (China Railway), the freight train service network currently reaches 224 cities in 25 European countries and connects over 100 cities in 11 Asian countries, covering almost the entire Eurasian continent. 

Moreover, the trains have transported more than 1.08 million twenty-foot equivalent unit (TEU) containers of goods this year, up 11 percent yearly. These achievements testify to the freights' increasing efficiency and volume, profoundly impacting international trade and logistics.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP) — Pak-China