A Chinese company has agreed to lay railway tracks in different parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Official sources cited by Radio Pakistan said that the agreement includes railway lines between Gilgit Baltistan and Chitral, Dera Ismail Khan and Kohat, and also connect Mardan to Saidu Sharif.
Trade and business activities are expected to flourish in the province upon completion of the railway track.
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Comments (43) Closed
Ahmed bin Babar
Feb 05, 2017 05:26pm
Don't forget the over given railway track ex Mari Indus (Punjab) to Bannu in KPK.
This area is undeveloped, needs uplift through such infrastructure & mega projects...
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Uday
Feb 05, 2017 05:44pm
India has good railway infrastructure building capabilities and capacities. Pakistan should involve Indian companies in building railway tracks . It will be good for both. Just a thought.
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AKB
Feb 05, 2017 06:40pm
Good news.Railway track through KPK will serve as shortest link between the two countries. Long live China-Pakistan friendship.
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gulzar
Feb 05, 2017 06:42pm
@Uday Love your thought.
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M. Asghar
Feb 05, 2017 06:49pm
@Uday : a good idea, but to make it practical, one has to solve the long lasting Kashmir problem
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Jamil Soomro, NEW YORK CITY
Feb 05, 2017 06:59pm
@Uday Your Railway infrastructure was done by the British. Every year because of
bad Management of Indian Railway system thousands of people die every year in
train accidents in India.
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imtiaz syed
Feb 05, 2017 07:11pm
@Uday I think India also has that old british hand railway track.
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Taco
Feb 05, 2017 08:10pm
@Uday ; I like your thought but ground realities are very different. No offense but kashmiri cause is very dear to us
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Dr. SalariA, Aamir Ahmad
Feb 05, 2017 08:09pm
This is great news thanks to the Chinese friends. The uplifting and improvement of the the dwindling plight and disastrous condition of the rotten state-of-affairs of Pakistan Railways is over due since decades.
In fact, Pakistan railways has hardly added any new track since the colonial masters left on August 14, 1947.
The whole ministry of Railways in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan has been heavily politicized from top to bottom, with some highly inefficient, totally uneducated, immensely immature, completely inexperienced and absolutely uncalled for people been put at the helm of its operations by the "movers and shakers" in Islamabad.
For example, the railway track from Golra Sharief Junction near Islamabad to Hawalian was laid down by Britishers. Ever since they left, the same railway track could not be extended up to Abbatabad, which is hardly 20-25 miles away. Similarly, there are hundreds of small railway tracks which could have been easily extended but all in vain.
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Dr. SalariA, Aamir Ahmad
Feb 05, 2017 08:13pm
This is great news thanks to the Chinese friends. The uplifting and improvement of the the dwindling plight and disastrous condition of the rotten state-of-affairs of Pakistan Railways is over due since decades.
In fact, Pakistan railways has hardly added any new track since the colonial masters left on August 14, 1947.
The whole ministry of Railways in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan has been heavily politicized from top to bottom, with some highly inefficient, totally uneducated, immensely immature, completely inexperienced and absolutely uncalled for people been put at the helm of its operations by the "movers and shakers" in Islamabad.
For example, the railway track from Golra Sharief Junction near Islamabad to Hawalian was laid down by Britishers. Ever since they left, the same railway track could not be extended up to Abbatabad, which is hardly 20-25 miles away. Similarly, there are hundreds of small railway tracks which could have been easily extended but all in vain.
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Jamil Soomro, NEW YORK CITY
Feb 05, 2017 08:49pm
@Uday I admire your good friendly suggestion.The two countries can embark on these
and other Projects and at the same time resolve all the pending issues once for all
between the two countries .
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Irfan
Feb 05, 2017 09:14pm
What a shame. Country of 200 million can not build railroad and has to depend on others
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D
Feb 05, 2017 09:18pm
i don't get it. a nuclear power but can't lay its own railway tracks!!!! strange
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my Comments
Feb 05, 2017 09:22pm
Its good to lay rail tracks. But an important part of agreement should be 'service' after the sale. What type of tracks quality of material and quality of service out of those rail tracks can be expected? Warranty for their products and services should be specified in the contract.
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Akbar
Feb 05, 2017 10:04pm
@Dr. SalariA, Aamir Ahmad yes sir.. a day will come when China will serve in political matters also because we haven't been become able to accomplish a lot of things on our own. And now we are proud that China is fuly ready to serve us. Look at Bangladesh there local people protested about China's involvement in setting up some industry.
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layman
Feb 05, 2017 10:09pm
@Uday . For your kind information China has already laid 4600 miles long railway track right upto Hairatan Afghanistan,this track was laid on very difficult terrain of deserts and mountains. Our KP terrain is identical to Afghan terrain, and China is our closest friend and that's it.Ofcourse your thought is sacred,and can become reality,but it will need time,and India must resolve the core issue of Kashmir,and ease visa regime,then only step by step
India & Pakistan both can have normal neighborly relations. But again we value and appreciate your compassionate thoughts.
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Sudhakar USA
Feb 05, 2017 10:34pm
A country that can launch a missile with MIRV capabilities in the very first shot cannot lay a piddly railway track?? very strange...
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Iqbal khan
Feb 05, 2017 10:43pm
What a great news for kpk if it is fulfilled. Two of these railway tracks may pass a hard mountainous areas of hindukush chain.
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IMran
Feb 05, 2017 10:44pm
Hands in hands.. china Pakistan going great. Other regional countries should resolve their dispute as peace is the only way to prosperity.
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Jay SHah
Feb 05, 2017 11:39pm
We want to see bullet train running between all cities of Pakistan. Long live China-PAK friendship.
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jafar Abbas
Feb 05, 2017 11:46pm
The proposals are principally agreed means far away from materialising. CPEC-1 is the govt,s priority. So wait for voting PML-N in 2018,2023 to hope some progress in this regard. Revival of Mari Indus- Banjo, Mardan-Charsada rail link with broad gauge Railway track should have been on priority.
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A DAWN READER
Feb 05, 2017 11:51pm
@Jamil Soomro, NEW YORK CITY
I agree that Indian Railways does not have a great safety record, and a lot needs to done. I agree that Indians need to do better to improve their railways system including connectivity and reach.
Facts: Pakistan got around 40% share of tracks and India about 60% share of tracks at the time of independence. In 1947, the total track length in India (excluding Pakistan) was 55,000 km. In current track length in India is 115,000 km. So British made 55,000 km in 94 years (1853 - 1947). Indian made 60,000 km in 69 years. Not bad, I would say.
You have a right to decline help. But you don't have a right to make up your own facts and make lies.
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MD. Kaleem UAE
Feb 05, 2017 11:51pm
From condoms to railway - all are made in China.
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asif
Feb 06, 2017 12:08am
Chinese railway? I hope not like Chinese products.
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SAM
Feb 06, 2017 12:20am
@Uday "India has good railway infrastructure building capabilities and capacities" Well if India has this capability. Then India should work on its own railway system first . India just had 3 major accidents because of poor Infrastructure. According to an Indian report every years 50000.00 people die in railways related accidents in India. In any case we will welcome Indian companies to Pakistan only if India stop sabotaging CPEC.
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farid
Feb 06, 2017 01:07am
@Uday My friend, unfortunately India and Pakistan are making nuclear weapons instead of bridges, trains etc.
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Dr. mohsin
Feb 06, 2017 01:29am
Good News. KPK took its time to attract foreign investors since PTI govt took over but positive side is that they have invested quite a lot on basic facilities and education. I am a doctor currently working in UK and was working in Punjab before. I have many colleagues here from KPK who are quite geared up to finish their post-graduation and go back & serve their people as salaries have increased, working environment has improved and work-life balance is excellent plus with new MTI initiative conflict of interest by senior clinicians is addressed as well.
Unfortunately we in Punjab lag far behind in this field as there is massive corruption and SIFARISH culture. You get so much upset with the stupid system that you end up deciding to leave and it has not changed much because over - involvement of politicians in it.
I just hope & pray that people of KPK vote for PTI again so see the real fruits of having a govt with right priorities. If system is right, mega projects will come.
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New york indian
Feb 06, 2017 01:44am
So pakistan can develop missiles on will, but cannot even lay a single railway track?!
Honestly, does pakistan have any technological capability?!
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youshay
Feb 06, 2017 02:40am
The rails and materials, the design and constructions and know how has to be from Pakistan. If we don't have it then teach us. We need to learn and learn to do it.
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PARVEZ CHOWDHURY
Feb 06, 2017 02:50am
The bell for Development is ringing- Hoping for the best
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Vish
Feb 06, 2017 03:16am
Chinese are doing everything than what will we do? It's our country try and there is no jobs in these projects given to locals.
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mojazze
Feb 06, 2017 03:40am
Those are some of the most difficult and risky mountain terrains. In the long run it will be good for Pakistan.
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Abdul Rahman Khan
Feb 06, 2017 04:18am
Dera Ismail Khan should be the focal point to connect not only hitherto undeveloped parts of the KPK but also parts of FATA such as Wana, Miran Shah etc. Dera should also have direct rail linkage with Multan and Lahore.
More than two dozens of governments have ruled Pakistan since its inception in 1947 but not a single kilometer of new lines was laid. Remember, one of our former Railway Ministers, ANP's Ghulam Ahmad Bilour had once said, inter alia, that ".....Pakistan doesn't need railways system. Afterall, how many countries in the world are without railway system....." etc.etc.
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Ahmad zubair
Feb 06, 2017 05:19am
Good Proposal to improve the Railway Tracks in KPK. it should be extended in the tribal areas as well.
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Dr Siddique
Feb 06, 2017 07:14am
@Dr. SalariA, Aamir Ahmad
Too much complaining about everything possible has made us dull boys; incompetent to bring change and face competitive and progressive world.
Good Day ! Think over !
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Vasan
Feb 06, 2017 07:17am
China buys steel from India, and they sell their business to other countries.
Recently Indian railway laid track in Srilanka from Jaffna to Colombo about 350 Km.
Since Pakistan was with united India before Pakistan created, engineers should already capable of doing on their own with world bank.
Sri Lanka's soft loans by China created hard life for them. So, think twice before being trapped.
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SDA
Feb 06, 2017 09:00am
Great work!
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SAM
Feb 06, 2017 09:32am
@D "i don't get it. a nuclear power but can't lay its own railway tracks!!!! strange" Indian railways is outdated and obsolete and the worst in the world. This line was used by Modi in his election campaign against congress.
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adventurer
Feb 06, 2017 12:44pm
Good work and very thankful to the Chinese. Still more appreciated will be if the Chinese develops the entire railway infrastructure of Pakistan, which would benefit all Citizens of Pakistan. Also China must think of introducing Bullet train's which must be part cpec project. Side by side the cost will be also reduced.
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D.K. PAMNANI
Feb 06, 2017 01:23pm
If every thing is to be done by Chinese Companies, what Pakistani Companies/ manpower will do?
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qurban rahim
Feb 06, 2017 03:05pm
the question is that why are our friend generous that is beyond our expectation even our imagination
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ahmedJ
Feb 06, 2017 08:57pm
@New york indian "So pakistan can develop missiles on will, but cannot even lay a single railway track?"
You don't have the slightest idea of the terrain being reported. You must have heard about Qinghai Tibet Railway which is a marvel of engineering on high altitude by China and China has the expertise in this regard which no one has in the entire region. Pakistan and Indian Railways which most of the Indians boast is almost a century old and British laid it for us. Even British won't be able to assist Pakistan on such high altitude.
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Ali
Feb 07, 2017 08:55pm
Railway is the cheapest means of transportation for people and goods which can link all parts of the country. Yet, this has been neglected by our successive governments.
Railway importance was even recognized by the British Raj, when railway was built from Karachi to Peshawar, through mountains and valleys to Quetta and beyond.
Those same railway tracks are used today as no new railway tracks were built since. Besides motorways, new railway line should be important part of CPEC trade route.
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