Pakistan Offers Strategic Routes from Karachi to Moscow via Central Asia: Aleem Khan
Islamabad: Pakistan is determined to position itself not just as a transit route, but as an economic bridge connecting South Asia with Central Asia, Europe, and Russia, said Federal Minister for Communications Abdul Aleem Khan while addressing the closing session of the Kazan Forum. He emphasized that Pakistan’s strategic location offers immense potential for fostering regional economic integration.
The minister highlighted that Pakistan has identified six possible trade corridors aimed at linking Central Asia to Europe and Russia via key regional players, including China, Afghanistan, and Iran. These corridors would include road routes extending from Karachi and Gwadar to Moscow, traversing through Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, and Azerbaijan, thereby offering shorter and efficient trade pathways.
He underscored Pakistan’s growing engagement in regional cooperation, especially through various bilateral and multilateral agreements in recent years. The minister particularly noted the country’s active role in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and revealed that the Mazar-i-Sharif to Kohat Railway Project—expected to cost around $633 million—will significantly boost interregional connectivity.
Abdul Aleem Khan also pointed out recent milestones, including the operationalization of Gwadar Port for cargo services, which will provide Central Asian nations with access to the Arabian Sea. He reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to improving North-South communication links and identified the Sukkur-Hyderabad Motorway (M-6) as a key infrastructure project ripe for investment.
The minister informed participants that Pakistan’s National Logistics Cell (NLC) has been actively delivering cargo to Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan since 2023. He added that the introduction of Visa-On-Arrival facilities for citizens of 126 countries in August last year was a significant policy step to attract trade, tourism, and investment from across the globe.
On the sidelines of the Kazan Forum, Abdul Aleem Khan held a bilateral meeting with Russian Deputy Prime Minister Marat Khusnullin. Both sides expressed interest in strengthening ties, particularly in the transport and communications sectors. The Russian leadership welcomed Pakistan’s active participation in the forum and expressed readiness to work closely with Islamabad in promoting mutual economic and regional development objectives.
