BEIJING, Feb 9: A Chinese company will provide 1,300 freight coaches to the railways and a memorandum of understanding will be signed here on Tuesday in this regard .

A 10-member delegation, led by Railways Minister Ghous Bakhsh Mahar, will arrive here on Monday to attend the signing ceremony at Great Hall of the People.

The delegation, including Sindh ministers, Shoaib Bukhari and Adil Siddique, will also attend a ceremony of shipment of 26 railway passenger coaches.

A Chinese official said China would provide technical and financial assistance for modernization of railway system.

During the week-long visit, the railways minister will discuss with the Chinese authorities replacement of the signalling system.

Chinese company Dongfang Electric Corporation has already provided 14 passenger coaches to Pakistan.

Under a plan, Chinese companies will supply 69 locomotives and 175 passenger coaches worth $200 million within three years.

Exim Bank of China will meet 87.5 per cent of the financial requirements on supplier credit basis and the rest of amount will be arranged by railways.

The agreement envisages transfer of technology and training of manpower so that the engines and coaches are produced in the country.—APP