OREANDA-NEWS. A delegation of Russian Railways headed by Company Vice-President Alexei Mersiyanov has just returned from Pakistan as part of the official visit by Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Fradkov to Islamabad. During a meeting with Shaukat Aziz, Pakistan’s Prime Minister, Fradkov discussed the opportunities for cooperation between the two countries in the rail sector.


After the meeting, Alexei Mersiyanov said that Russian Railways was ready to take part in the construction of new railway lines in Pakistan, including the main line to Iran. Russian Railways is also interested in projects to reconstruct existing lines in Pakistan.


The possibility of Russian Railways taking part in a feasibility study to develop mineral deposits in Pakistan was also examined. The Company proposed presenting an estimate for the construction and operation of railways lines running to the mineral deposits.


At the moment, Russian Railways is participating in a tender to supply Pakistan with SCB systems (Signalling, Centralisation and Blocking) for the rail sector. According to agreements, the Company will present proposals in the near future to modernise railway bridges in Pakistan. The supply of Russian rolling stock, railway track and surface infrastructure was also discussed.


The Russian Railways’ subsidiary Trading House, whose Managing Director, Anatoly Volodin, was also a member of the Russian delegation, will promote the Company’s services, equipment and technology on the Pakistani market and in other countries.


The Pakistani government recently approved a state programme to develop the rail sector up to 2011, with planned investments of $1,8 billion.


Pakistan is currently modernizing its railway lines, and demand for modern rolling stock, traffic management systems and materials for railway line structures is growing.