KARACHI – The proposed Gul Train between Islamabad and Turkey, named after the Turkish president, moved a step forward on Friday as a Turkish delegation led by Prof Dr Guven Sak, head of Economic Policy Research Foundation of Turkey, called on President Asif Ali Zardari at Bilawal House Karachi. The delegation told the president that the pre-feasibility study of the project would be completed by Zardari’s forthcoming visit to Turkey in April. Turkish Ambassador in Islamabad Mustafa Babur Hizlan was also present in the meeting.
The Pakistani side included Chairman BOI Saleem Mandviwala, the Planning Commission deputy chairman, Secretary to President Malik Asif Hayat, the Railways general manager and president’s spokesman Farhatullah Babar. Briefing reporters, Farhatullah Babar said Guven Sak, who had already held meetings with the board of investment, Railway officials, private entrepreneurs and the Stock Exchange ahead of meeting the president, described the project as “doable”. The president said the equity for the project may be raised through the stock exchange and leading international companies of repute in the business of infrastructure development. He said during his visit to Japan, he observed that Japanese entrepreneurs were keen to consider participation in the project.
