Pakistan to become economic hub of South Asia: Rashid
By Adnan Rafique

ISLAMABAD—Pakistan has the potential to become economic hub of South Asia in the near future with the development of Gwadar Port and laying of Havelian-Kashghar (China) and Quetta-Quandhar (Afghanistan) railway track.
This was stated Minister for Railways, Sheikh Rashid Ahmed here Wednesday while talking to a delegation of China National Machinery Corporation (CMC). Speaking on the occasion, the Minister said Pakistan would emerge a energy and economy corridor for Central and South Asia linking it with Europe and rest of the world through road and rail network.
China being an economic giant would heavily rely on Pakistan for export of its commodities to the world through this strategic route, he added.
Sheikh Rashid appreciated the work done by CMC in construction of 175 passenger coaches in Pakistan Railway Carriage factory by Chinese engineers. He said keeping in view the rising economy of Pakistan the load of freight movement has increased manifold in the last few years.
To cope with the emerging and projected situation in term of goods transportation, Pakistan Railway direly needed locomotives, freight coaches and new rail tracks. He encouraged the Chinese Entrepreneur to join Pakistan Railways in materializing these projects. Highlighting the significance of Havelian-Kasghar rail network the minister told the delegation that feasibility study on this new track was underway which would be completed in three months.
He said as a result of last visit of the Chinese President Hu Jintao to Pakistan, the cooperation between the two countries in railways has increased manifold.
He said that different avenues of mutual cooperation have been marked that also included extending railway line to China, introduction of new signaling system and construction of Mass transit train systems in eight major cities of Pakistan with a population of over 2 million.
He invited the Chinese firms to participate in Mass Transit train projects and revival of Karachi Circular Rail (KCR) system.