Wolesi Jirga approves presidential decree on draft railway law

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A draft railway law was approved by the Wolesi Jirga on 28 October 2019.

The Lower House of Parliament on Monday’s plenary session confirmed president’s legislative decrees regarding to law of railway and annex #(3) law of principles of commercial courts.
[…]
Overall in accordance to agenda, the president’s legislative decree in relation to law of railway in order to obtaining of vote was presented in the session by chief and members of the national economy commission Akbar Sultanzada, Obaidullah Kalimzai and Halima Askari.

In result, the mentioned decree in 11 chapters and 58 articles by adding of item 2nd and 3rd in article 54 was confirmed with majority votes.

Source: Wolesi Jirga confirms president’s legislative decrees regarding to law of railway and annex (3) law of principles of commercial courts, 28 October 2019.

First Afghanistan to China rail freight service

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An inaugural service carrying freight for export to China by rail left Hairatan on 5 September 2019.1 It was carrying 1 100 tonnes of talc in 41 containers, which were expected to arrive in China’s Jiangxi province in around 14 days, travelling 6 700 km via Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan.

The locomotive from Uzbekistan’s national railway UTY and the containers were decorated with banners showing the flags of the four countries, and a portrait of King Amanullah.

Guests at the despatch of the first export train included Minister of Transport Yama Yari, various national and local government officials and representatives of the embassies of Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and China.

The first rail freight service from China to Afghanistan ran in September 2016, but the start of services in the opposite direction was delayed by bureaucratic issues.

  1. Afghanistan – China rail freight service sets off, Railway Gazette International, 9 September 2019. ↩

Friendship Bridge pictures

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Khaf – Herat railway photos

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And confirmation of Italian funding for the fourth phase:

Afghanistan joins OTIF

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Afghanistan: 51st member of OTIF

On 1 May 2019, Afghanistan becomes the 51st member of the Intergovernmental Organisation for International Carriage
by Rail (OTIF). The Islamic Republic of Afghanistan deposited an application for accession to COTIF and its Appendices
on 7 November 2018.

Afghanistan is also a member of the Organisation for Cooperation between Railways (OSJD) and the Economic Cooperation
Organization (ECO). Its accession to COTIF 1999 and all its Appendices therefore helps provide international rail transport
between Europe and Asia with a uniform framework.

The Secretariat of OTIF welcomes both the accession and this new Member State of OTIF.#

Source: OTIF press release, 1 May 2019