TEHRAN – Iran, Pakistan and Turkey have agreed with the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) to revive monthly freight services along the 6,540-km Istanbul–Tehran–Islamabad (ITI) rail corridor, aiming to cut trade times and boost regional competitiveness.

During a two-day meeting in Islamabad, representatives from the three countries and ECO Secretary-General Khusrav Noziri, joined by senior officials from Pakistan Railways, pledged to remove tariff, customs and logistics barriers that have hindered the route’s operation.

The parties signed a memorandum outlining commitments to harmonized and competitive freight tariffs, reliable train schedules, full train loading at both ends, customs facilitation and improved transshipment procedures at border crossings.

One key outcome was the agreement to operate at least one freight train per month along the ITI corridor. The service, covering 6,540 kilometers in under 10 days – about one-third the time of maritime transport – is expected to cut costs and speed up trade among the three nations.

Officials described the move as a significant step toward strengthening regional transport cooperation and positioning the ITI corridor as a competitive alternative for Eurasian trade flows.

The ITI rail corridor, launched as a pilot project in 2009 under the ECO framework, was envisioned as a strategic land route linking South Asia with Europe via Turkey. While the line has seen intermittent services over the past decade, technical hurdles, uneven infrastructure and lack of tariff coordination prevented its regular use.

Pakistan, Iran and Turkey have long argued that the ITI corridor could transform regional connectivity by offering a cheaper and faster alternative to sea freight. It also has potential to integrate with the International North–South Transport Corridor (INSTC) and China’s Belt and Road Initiative, creating a wider Eurasian logistics network.

For landlocked Central Asian states, the ITI could open new access to seaports in Pakistan, while Turkey views it as a complementary route to its role as a transit hub between Asia and Europe. Iran, situated at the heart of the corridor, stands to benefit from transit revenues and stronger regional trade links amid efforts to diversify its economy.

EF/MA