At Kazakhstan forum, Pakistan presents Karachi and Gwadar ports as 'strategic gateways' for Central Asian trade

At a regional economic forum in Almaty on Monday, Pakistan’s Board of Investment minister Qaiser Ahmed Sheikh presented Karachi, Port Qasim and Gwadar as routes that could connect Central Asian countries with overseas markets. Dawn reported that he described Pakistan as a potential transit corridor for these landlocked economies.

Sheikh pointed to Karachi’s industrial base, business facilities, financial institutions and port links as areas that could support trade and investment, while highlighting Gwadar’s role in regional connections. He also urged investors to consider opportunities in energy, infrastructure, logistics, transport, manufacturing and trade, and cited the Carec programme’s contribution to regional cooperation. The two-day Tianshan Forum is scheduled to end in Almaty on Tuesday.