ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's Federal Minister for Railways, Muhammad Hanif Abbasi, has reaffirmed Islamabad’s commitment to deepen bilateral cooperation with Bangladesh, focusing on railway development, technical exchange, rolling stock, and manufacturing collaboration.

In a message issued during the visit of a Bangladeshi delegation to the Pakistan Railways Workshop Division on Saturday, Abbasi said closer railway-to-railway ties could deliver “significant mutual benefits for both countries.”

The delegation was led by Farhad Islam, secretary for International Organizations and Consular Affairs and designated D-8 Commissioner of Bangladesh, along with Bangladesh’s High Commissioner to Pakistan Mohammad Iqbal Hussain Khan. Senior Pakistan Railways officials received the visitors at the department’s headquarters and workshop facilities.

The visit underscores a renewed focus on institutional cooperation between Pakistan and Bangladesh, with railways emerging as a practical entry point for rebuilding technical and economic linkages through state-run infrastructure collaboration.

In his message, Abbasi emphasized the scope for expanding bilateral engagement, particularly through “railway development, exchange of expertise, rolling stock, and manufacturing cooperation.”

He said enhanced collaboration between the two railway systems could strengthen long-term connectivity and capacity-building.

During the visit, Chief Mechanical Engineer (Carriage & Wagons) Muhammad Nasir Khalili briefed the delegation on the operational structure, technical capabilities, and ongoing development projects of Pakistan Railways’ workshops.

A short documentary showcasing the workshops’ operational strength and working capacity was also presented.

Addressing the gathering, Khalili said Pakistan and Bangladesh are “brotherly countries with a shared history, culture, and heritage.”

He added that there is “vast potential for bilateral cooperation in the railway sector, including technology sharing and joint initiatives.”

As part of the program, commemorative shields were exchanged between Pakistani and Bangladeshi officials as a gesture of goodwill.

The delegation was later taken on a detailed tour of the Mughalpura Locomotive Workshop, where officials explained various stages of locomotive maintenance, rehabilitation, and manufacturing.

The visiting dignitaries described the tour as “highly informative, productive and encouraging,” according to the statement, and praised the technical expertise and professional competence of Pakistan Railways staff.

The engagement reflects Pakistan’s broader push to expand functional cooperation with Bangladesh through sector-specific partnerships, as both sides explore avenues to strengthen institutional ties beyond diplomatic exchanges.

Railway cooperation

Pakistan, Bangladesh push rail cooperation during delegation visit