Afghanistan, June 20 -- The cost of the proposed trans-Afghan railway linking Uzbekistan, Afghanistan and Pakistan could exceed $7 billion, significantly higher than earlier estimates, according to a senior Uzbek transport official.
Jasurbek Choriev said on Friday that the feasibility study for the project is expected to be completed by the end of 2026. Speaking on the sidelines of the Tashkent Investment Forum, he said previous estimates placed the project's cost at around $4.6 billion, but revised calculations now suggest the total could surpass $7 billion.
The railway would connect Mazar-e-Sharif, Kabul and Peshawar, creating what Uzbek officials describe as the shortest transit route between Central Asia and Pakistan's seaports. The c...