Despite encountering heavy snowfall on its way to Istanbul, the third train carrying goods from Pakistan has entered Turkey, marking the successful operation of the Islamabad-Tehran-Istanbul (ITI) goods train, which resumed in December 2021 after being dormant for nearly a decade.
The train is likely to reach its destination by Wednesday. Officials say delays were caused by extreme weather conditions during the journey that started from Islamabad on Jan 23.
Two more international freight trains will depart from the Aza Khel dry port, around 153km from Islamabad for Istanbul within 10 days, most likely on Feb 21, said a senior official of Pakistan Railways.
“The third freight train carrying high value goods, as per demand received from Turkey, has also entered Turkey and will reach Istanbul by Wednesday,” said the official dealing with the affairs of the ITI operations when approached by Dawn on Saturday.
“The train entered Turkey via Lahore, Khanewal, Bahawalpur, Sukkur, Spenzand, Sibi, Nushki, Taftan (Pakistan) and Zahidan and Tehran (Iran),” he added.
