Pakistan pitches ports to Central Asia

Pakistan's Minister for Board of Investment Qaiser Ahmed Sheikh told the Second Tianshan Forum in Almaty, Kazakhstan on November two that Pakistan can serve as a trade and transit corridor for landlocked Central Asian countries.

Three seaports as strategic gateways

Sheikh termed Pakistan's three major seaports, Karachi Port, Port Qasim and Gwadar Port, strategic gateways that could facilitate regional trade, strengthen transportation links and provide alternative routes for goods movement.

Karachi's industrial and commercial hub

Sheikh underscored Karachi's importance as Pakistan's major industrial and commercial hub, noting its established industrial base, business infrastructure, financial institutions and port facilities offered significant opportunities for trade and investment.

Gwadar's regional connectivity potential

Sheikh highlighted Gwadar's potential to further strengthen regional connectivity and economic cooperation among Central Asian countries seeking access to international maritime trade routes.

Connectivity beyond infrastructure

Regional connectivity was not merely about linking roads, ports and markets, but also about connecting economies, creating investment opportunities, generating employment and building shared prosperity across the region, Sheikh said.

“not merely about linking roads, ports and markets, but also about connecting economies, creating investment opportunities, generating employment and building shared prosperity”

Investment sectors highlighted

Sheikh invited regional and international investors to explore opportunities in energy, infrastructure, logistics, transportation, manufacturing and trade, emphasising that improved connectivity and reliable energy supplies were essential.

Carec's role in regional cooperation

Sheikh acknowledged the contribution of the Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation Programme in promoting transport connectivity, facilitating trade and supporting economic integration among participating countries.

Pakistan's strategic positioning

Sheikh emphasised that Pakistan's strategic geographical location, youthful population, industrial capacity and seaport infrastructure positioned the country to connect Central Asian economies with international markets.

Forum details and theme

The Second Tianshan Forum will conclude in Almaty on Tuesday under the theme Strengthening Resilient Connectivity and Quality Investment in Central Asia. It is a follow-up to the inaugural Tianshan Forum.

Forum aligned with Carec strategies

The two-day forum is aligned with the new Carec Institute Strategy twenty twenty-six to twenty thirty and the Carec twenty thirty Strategy Midterm Review Rolling Implementation Action Plan.

Carec region faces uncertain environment

In twenty twenty-six, the Carec region faces a highly uncertain external environment. Rising geopolitical tensions have raised energy and food prices, disrupted transport and logistics, and weakened the reliability of trade corridors.

Intra-regional trade remains limited

Intra-regional trade remained limited due to similar economic structures, weak production complementarities and incomplete market opening. Persistent transport and logistics bottlenecks kept trade costs high.

Non-physical barriers to trade

Non-physical barriers including inconsistent customs procedures, weak digitalisation, non-harmonised standards and inefficient border operations further constrain cross-border flows in the Carec region.

Digital infrastructure reshaping connectivity

Digital infrastructure, especially cloud services, data centres and artificial intelligence applications, is expanding rapidly and reshaping connectivity and competitiveness across the Carec region.

Carec countries progress unevenly

Carec countries are progressing unevenly with large gaps in backbone infrastructure, digital skills and regulatory coherence. These gaps must be bridged to effectively support inclusive growth and regional integration.

Senior leaders gather to discuss strategy

Senior representatives from multilateral development banks, financial institutions, policymakers, business leaders, local governments and academia across Carec countries are attending to discuss transport, trade, logistics, energy and digital connectivity.