Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal has shared a plan to connect Central Asian trade with the Arabian Sea by transforming Pakistan’s CAREC transport routes into economic corridors.
Speaking at the 25th Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation (CAREC) Ministerial Conference in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, Iqbal said CAREC Corridors 5 and 6 could connect Central Asia with Pakistan’s Arabian Sea routes and generate economic activity along the way.
The minister said the focus should move beyond simply allowing trucks to travel through the routes. The corridors should enable businesses to move goods reliably and profitably while supporting investment, exports, jobs and local economic activity.
He said Pakistan needs to complete the transport chain by upgrading CAREC roads, modernizing border facilities at Torkham and Chaman, improving rail freight capacity through the proposed ML-1 upgrade, and strengthening links with dry ports and seaports.
The minister also proposed establishing logistics and production hubs at strategic locations along the corridors. These could include cold storage, packaging, warehousing and light manufacturing facilities to help turn transit activity into exports and employment.
He called for greater digital connectivity across the CAREC region. He said Pakistan’s Single Window system could provide a foundation for integrating digital trade processes with regional partners and reducing paperwork at borders.
The minister said border procedures should include advance electronic information, compatible operating hours, coordinated processes and fewer repeated checks. He said the performance of corridors should also be measured through indicators such as border delays, delivery times, local employment and participation of small and medium-sized enterprises.
He also called for CAREC countries to coordinate the planning and development of cross-border projects, use common standards and align investment and construction schedules. The Asian Development Bank could help mobilize financing, including private investment, he added.
He said Pakistan’s location at the intersection of Central Asia, South Asia and maritime routes could help it support regional trade, digital integration and the development of regional value chains.
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