The Ministry of Public Works said that over the past five months, more than 1.6 million tons of goods have been transported via railways.

According to the ministry's information, more than 66,000 tons of commercial goods have been exported through the railways, with the majority being dried fruits, minerals, and beverages.

Afghanistan is one of the countries without access to the sea, and it primarily conducts trade through land routes and air corridors.
Railway trade is completed in a shorter time and at a lower cost.

Mohammad Ashraf Haq, the spokesperson for the Ministry of Public Works, said: "In the past five months, over 1.6 million metric tons of goods have been transported via the ministry's railway lines from four ports: Aqina, Torghundi, Khaf-Herat, and Hairatan, which include petroleum and non-petroleum products and other materials imported and exported to the country."

The Chamber of Commerce and Investment said that the establishment of railways plays a vital role in increasing trade with Central Asian countries and South Asia.

Khan Jan Alokozay, a member of the board of directors of the Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Investment, said, "One of the important tasks that the Islamic Emirate has after the power supply is the railway lines, which we must build."

Meanwhile, some economic experts emphasize that investment in railways plays a vital role in increasing trade and economic growth.

Abdul Nasir Rashtia, an economic expert, said: "Besides Afghanistan's need to establish a railway network, regional countries, especially Central Asian countries, are keenly interested in connecting themselves through Afghanistan to the Chabahar port, Torkham, and Karachi."

Mohammad Nabi Afghan, an economic expert, said: "If we can connect to the world through rail and expand our transit with neighboring countries, we can stabilize our economy and grow our industry."

Meanwhile, the Deputy Minister of Railways of the Ministry of Public Works signed two agreements with Turkmenistan for railway development on Saturday of this week.