Pakistan Seeks To Link Central Asia With Global Markets Through CAREC Corridors: Ahsan Iqbal.
Listen3 min
Read aloud by your device’s built-in synthetic voice, not a recording. Needs a browser that can read aloud.
✧ GENERATE BRIEFING
Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal outlines Pakistan's vision at the 25th CAREC Conference in Mongolia to transform transit routes into economic corridors. Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal addressed the 25th Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation (CAREC) Ministerial Conference in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, advocating for the transformation of traditional transit routes into next-generation economic corridors. Highlighting CAREC Corridors 5 and 6, the minister emphasized Pakistan's strategic location as a bridge connecting landlocked Central Asian economies to the Arabian Sea and global maritime routes. Key proposals included modernizing infrastructure through the ML-1 railway upgrade, streamlining border posts at Torkham and Chaman, establishing specialized logistics and cold-chain manufacturing hubs, and leveraging the Pakistan Single Window (PSW) to foster a regional digital trade corridor. Pakistan is slated to assume the CAREC Chairmanship in 2027 and host the 26th Ministerial Conference.
Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal has called for transforming the Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation (CAREC) transport routes into modern economic corridors that can connect Central Asian countries with global markets through Pakistan.
Speaking at the 25th CAREC Ministerial Conference in Mongolia, Ahsan Iqbal said Pakistan viewed CAREC Corridors 5 and 6 as an opportunity to link Central Asia with the Arabian Sea and generate trade and economic activity along the routes.
Moving Beyond Basic Transit to Regional Competitiveness
The minister said the focus should move beyond simply moving goods from one point to another. He called for integrating transport infrastructure with logistics, digital connectivity, energy cooperation and climate-resilient infrastructure to make regional trade routes more competitive.
He highlighted the need to upgrade CAREC roads, modernise border facilities at Torkham and Chaman, strengthen rail freight capacity through the proposed ML-1 upgrade, and improve connections between dry ports and seaports. These measures, he said, would help complete the regional transport chain.
Ahsan also proposed establishing logistics and production hubs along the corridors, including facilities for cold storage, packaging, warehousing and light manufacturing. Such infrastructure could help turn transit activity into exports, employment and greater economic value for communities located along the routes.
Digital Integration and Energy Connectivity
The minister further called for a digital corridor across the CAREC region, with the Pakistan Single Window (PSW) providing a foundation for digital integration. He said trade documents should be processed before consignments reach borders to reduce delays and repeated checks.
Energy cooperation was another area highlighted by the minister. He pointed to CASA-1000 as an example of the potential for cross-border energy connectivity and stressed that new roads, railways and logistics facilities should be designed to withstand floods and extreme heat.
Ahsan Iqbal urged CAREC countries to coordinate the planning and financing of cross-border projects, establish compatible border procedures and measure outcomes such as delivery times, border delays, SME participation and local employment. He said the Asian Development Bank could help mobilise financing, including private-sector investment.
Pakistan is scheduled to assume the CAREC Chairmanship in 2027 and host the 26th CAREC Ministerial Conference. The minister said Pakistan intends to use its geographic position between Central Asia, South Asia and maritime trade routes to strengthen regional connectivity, trade and value chains.
