World Bank to finance construction of high-speed railway between Afghanistan and Pakistan
The World Bank will allocate loan for the creation of an ultra-modern transport corridor between Afghanistan and Pakistan along the Khyber Pass, which will contribute to the development of trade relations between South and Central Asia.
The project plans to build a 48 km four-lane expressway Peshawar-Kabul, which will link Pakistan, Afghanistan through the border mountain Khyber Pass in the Spin Ghar mountains. The corridor will be also available for the transit of cargo from the countries of the region.
According to Illango Patchamuthu, World Bank Country Director for Pakistan, The $460.6 million Khyber Pass Economic Corridor Project will benefit consumers, producers, and traders in Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Central Asia by supporting private sector investments and reducing transport time and cost.
Afghanistan and Pakistan are connected by two main border crossings for the movement of international transit goods. These are Spin Boldak-Chaman and Peshawar-Kabul highways.
The distance between the Turkmen border railway station Ymamnazar and Khyber Pass is 865 kilometers. This is the shortest route that can connect Turkmenistan and the future Khyber express corridor.
