Tehran welcomes Pakistan to Turkey ECO freight train
Tuesday, 25 Aug 2009
Mehr News Agency reported that the first Economic Cooperation Organization freight train which originated from Pakistan and destined for Turkey arrived in Tehran on August 23rd 2009.
As per report, Mr Hamid Behbahani roads and transportation minister of Iran, Mr Khurshid Anwar general secretary of ECO and ECO member countries’ ambassadors to Tehran attended the welcoming ceremony of the ECO train.
The Islamabad, Tehran Istanbul train left Islamabad’s Margala Station on August 14th 2009 en route to Istanbul’s Haydarpashsa Station via Tehran.
According to Press TV, the freight train is supposed to cover a 6,500 kilometer journey in 15 days. It is estimated that 1,924 kilometers of the rail link passes through Pakistan, 2,570 kilometers through Iran and 2,006 kilometers through Turkey.
According to media reports, the train is carrying 20 containers, 14 of which will be off loaded in Tehran while the remaining 6 are bound for Istanbul. The concept of such a train was proposed at the 18th Regional Planning Council of the ECO held in March 2008 at Islamabad. The train aims to enhance regional cooperation among ECO member states and facilitate the socio economic progress of member states.
The Economic Cooperation Organization is an intergovernmental regional organization established in 1985 by Iran, Pakistan and Turkey for the purpose of promoting economic, technical and cultural cooperation among the member states. It provides a platform to discuss ways to improve development and promote trade and investment opportunities.
In 1992 ECO expanded to include seven new members, namely Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.
