Pakistan will inaugurate its first freight rail line to Russia on June 22, with a train departing from Lahore, announced Railways Minister Muhammad Hanif Abbasi at a press conference.

The project is part of an initiative to modernize Pakistan Railways and expand logistics operations. According to Abbasi, this aligns with Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif's vision for integration with Central Asia, including Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan.

"We are not just building a railway; we are building an economic corridor," the minister stated.

The route will follow the eastern branch of the International North-South Transport Corridor, connecting Pakistan with Iran, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, and southern Russia. The estimated transit time is 20-25 days.

The train will travel 2,001 kilometers through Pakistan to the Iranian border, where cargo will be reloaded in Zahedan due to a change in track gauge. The route will then continue through Serakhs in Turkmenistan, Bolashak and Atyrau in Kazakhstan, and conclude in Astrakhan, Russia.

According to official data, the initial phase will involve sending 15-16 TEUs with approximately 500 tons of cargo. In the future, the volume of shipments is planned to increase to 31 TEUs after tariffs are approved.

Pakistan exports leather goods, medical equipment, and textiles to Russia, and imports wheat, fertilizers, dried vegetables, and petroleum products. The direct rail line is expected to significantly boost bilateral trade.