Iran, Pakistan, and Türkiye Revive ITI Rail Corridor

ISLAMABAD – Iran, Pakistan, and Türkiye have reached an agreement with the Economic Cooperation Organisation (ECO) to restart regular freight services along the Istanbul–Tehran–Islamabad (ITI) rail corridor, a 6,540-kilometre route aimed at reducing trade times and strengthening regional competitiveness.

During a two-day meeting in Islamabad, officials from the three countries, along with ECO Secretary-General Khusrav Noziri and senior representatives from Pakistan Railways, pledged to remove tariff, customs, and logistical obstacles that had previously slowed the corridor’s operations. The ITI corridor is expected to provide crucial access to Pakistani seaports for landlocked Central Asian countries.

A memorandum of understanding was signed, detailing commitments to:

• Harmonised and competitive freight tariffs
• Reliable train schedules
• Full train loading at both ends
• Streamlined customs procedures
• Improved transshipment at border crossings

One key outcome of the meeting was the decision to operate at least one freight train per month along the ITI route. The journey, which covers 6,540 kilometres in under 10 days, is projected to cut transport time by about two-thirds compared to maritime routes, reducing costs and accelerating trade between the three nations.

The ITI corridor, initially launched as a pilot project in 2009 under the ECO framework, connects South Asia to Europe via Türkiye. Its regular operations were previously hindered by technical challenges, inconsistent infrastructure, and uncoordinated tariffs.

Officials said the revived corridor could also integrate with the International North–South Transport Corridor (INSTC) and China’s Belt and Road Initiative, strengthening Eurasian logistics networks. Türkiye views the route as complementing its role as a transit hub between Asia and Europe, while Iran aims to boost transit revenues and regional trade as part of economic diversification efforts.