ECO train racing towards Iranian capital

The first Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) freight train which will cross Pakistan, Iran and Turkey is scheduled to enter Tehran on Sunday.

The Islamabad-Tehran-Istanbul container train started its journey from the Pakistani capital, Islamabad, on August 14.

The freight train is supposed to cover a 6,500-kilometer railroad in 15 days. It is estimated that 1,924 kilometers of the rail link passes through Pakistan, 2,570 kilometers through Iran and 2,006 kilometers through Turkey.

According to media reports, the train is carrying 20 containers, 14 of which will be off-loaded in Tehran while the remaining six are for Istanbul.

The concept of such a train was proposed at the 18th Regional Planning Council of the ECO held in March 2008 at Islamabad.

The train aims to enhance regional cooperation among ECO member states and facilitate the socio-economic progress of member states.

ECO is an intergovernmental regional organization established in 1985 by Iran, Pakistan and Turkey for the purpose of promoting economic, technical and cultural cooperation among the member states.

Members of the organization include Afghanistan, Azerbaijan Republic, Islamic Republic of Iran, Republic of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Islamic Republic of Pakistan, Republic of Tajikistan, Republic of Turkey, Turkmenistan and the Republic of Uzbekistan