Hyde
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Connecting cities via rail link: MoU signed
ISLAMABAD (July 08 2010): Pakistan and Afghanistan on Wednesday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to connect Peshawar-Jalalabad and Chaman-Spinbuldak sections through railway link. The agreement was signed by Federal Minister for Railways Ghulam Ahmad Bilour and Minister for Finance, Afghanistan Hazrat Omar Zakhilwal on behalf of their respective governments.
Railway link will be laid between Peshawar and Jalalabad via Torkham to connect both neighbouring countries. Similarly, rail link will also be established through Chaman-Spinbuldak section. Informed sources in the Railway Ministry who attended the meeting told BR that feasibility study of the project will be conducted in nine months. However, feasibility study of 109 kms Chaman-Spinbuldak section has already been completed and waiting for NOC from the Afghan government to start work.
Sources added that Pakistan Railways is facing financial crunch and it is difficult for the organisation to finance the projects. The projects aim at serving the people of Afghanistan. Nowadays, most of the donors agencies including World Bank, Asian Development Bank (ADB) and G-8 forum are taking interest in facilitating Pakistan in its uplift efforts.
"We are trying to arrange money for the said project from these donor agencies, especially G-8 forum who have pledged to develop Afghanistan as Pakistan is facing financial crisis and is not in a position to carry out these projects by utilising own resources," sources maintained. The work on first phase of Chaman-Spinbuldak section measuring about 10 kms to 15 kms will start as soon as the Afghan government issues NOC, sources added.
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