RAWALPINDI, April 21: A feasibility study for developing rail link between Pakistan and China is in advanced stages and is expected to be completed before the end of 2007, according to federal Minister for Railways Shaikh Rashid Ahmed.

He was talking to a delegation of a Chinese company that called on him here on Saturday and expressed willingness to supply Pakistan Railways with high-speed passenger coaches, needed for running rapid trains.

The minister said that the Pakistan-China rail link would provide both the countries ample opportunities to boost cooperation in economic and social sectors with European and Central Asian countries.

He said that work on Quetta-Kandahar and Taftan-Zahedan sections was already under way, adding that the rail links would provide an impetus to economic activity in this part of South Asia.

Vice-President of the China National Machinery Corporation (CNC) Zhao Jun said: “We are keen to supply high-speed coaches to Pakistan Railways.”

Mr Jun said the coaches were capable of running at speeds ranging between 250-300 kilometres an hour, effectively meeting Pakistan Railways requirements. He said that his company had been supplying high-speed coaches to railways in China and various European countries. Pakistan Railways requires such coaches to run its ‘bullet trains’.