Work on Afghanistan-Turkmenistan railroad begins

MAZAR-I-SHARIF (PAN with neighbouring Turkmenistan has been launched and it would take two years to complete, the public works minister said on Sunday.

Najibullah Awzhan said construction of the 330-kilomentre railway track had been started from the Kaldar district of Balkh province and would pass through Shiberghan city of Jawzjan until it reached Turkmenistan through the Aqina dry port in Faryab province.

The railway line is estimated to cost $4 billion which had been provided by the Asian Development Bank, the minister said.

He said the project would help provide area people with work opportunities on the one hand and boost trade with Turkmenistan on the other.

“It is the best way to improve Afghan trade with central Asian countries,” remarked Balkh Governor Atta Mohammad Noor. He hoped the project would be completed without any problem.

myn/ma

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