ISLAMABAD, Oct 31 (Wealth Pakistan) – Pakistan Railways (PR) has started the land acquisition process following the completion of the feasibility study for the Pakistan-Afghan Railway transit project.
According to documents available with Wealth Pakistan, PR has initiated the land acquisition phase while recommending a new connectivity route with Afghanistan through Kharlachi instead of Torkham.
Route Finalised Through Kharlachi
Sources in the Ministry of Railways said the next phase of execution will begin once the land acquisition process is completed. They added that necessary documentation and financial approvals are in progress to ensure timely implementation. Technical teams have already carried out initial surveys, and coordination with provincial authorities is underway to resolve administrative and logistical issues before construction begins.
The documents confirm that the route has been finalised through Kharlachi due to several advantages over the Torkham option.
Reasons for Route Change
The shift from Torkham to Kharlachi offers multiple benefits, including a 277-kilometre shorter distance to Karachi Port, lower construction cost, and a more favourable gradient for train movement. The Kharlachi route also allows a higher payload capacity, easier implementation, and better technical parameters for an efficient railway system.
Background of the Project
The Government of Pakistan and the Government of Afghanistan signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in July 2010 to strengthen freight transport between the two countries. In line with that MoU, Pakistan Railways launched a feasibility study in 2015 for a 63-kilometre rail link from Peshawar to Jalalabad via Torkham.
However, the feasibility work in Afghanistan could not proceed due to the non-issuance of a security clearance NOC by the Afghan Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The existing Peshawar–Torkham railway track also faces operational limitations because it crosses the Bacha Khan International Airport boundary, where the Civil Aviation Authority has built a security wall. The section’s steep gradient allows a maximum train load of only 200 tonnes, making it technically unviable for heavy freight.
Regional Connectivity Initiative
The concept of regional rail connectivity was revived during a five-nation meeting in Tashkent in 2021. Participants emphasised the importance of linking Central Asia with South Asia through Afghanistan to promote trade and transit. It was agreed that the proposed Mazar-e-Sharif–Kabul–Peshawar route would be studied jointly by experts from the three countries.
Feasibility Study for New Corridor
Following those consultations, Pakistan and Uzbekistan agreed to conduct a feasibility study for a new rail corridor from Kharlachi (Pakistan) to Mazar-e-Sharif (Afghanistan) via Logar. A PC-II for the feasibility study has been approved at a cost of Rs1.401 billion for the 677-kilometre section.
According to the document, the proposed rail link will connect Pakistan’s Main Line-2 (ML-2) through Kohat, Jand, Kundian, Kot Adu, and Karachi, creating an integrated north-south transport corridor.
Technical Coordination and Gauge Standard
Pakistan currently uses the broad-gauge system, and changing the gauge is not feasible as it would require replacing the entire network. For the new connection from Kharlachi to Mazar-e-Sharif, the track gauge will be decided jointly by Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Uzbekistan after technical consultations.