420% Rise in Commercial Exchanges Via Rail With Pakistan

Commercial exchanges via railroad between Iran and Pakistan saw a staggering 420% growth over the past one year, Pakistan’s commercial attaché in Iran said. Nazar Muhammad Ranjha was also quoted as saying by IRNA that annual bilateral trade currently standing at $2 billion should reach $5 billion based on a target set by both sides. More than 10,600 tons of goods were exported via railroad from Zahedan in the southeastern Iranian province of Sistan-Baluchestan to Quetta in Pakistan during the first four months of the current Iranian year (started March 21), indicating a 126% rise year-on-year. During the period, Pakistan exported 6,000 tons of goods to Iran via railroad, registering a 5% rise YOY.