ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari on Saturday visited the Kashgar Free Trade Zone (FTZ), the only facility of its kind in southern Xinjiang and a key hub for trade and logistics in the region.
Upon arrival, he was received by Yao Ning, CPC Party Secretary of Kashgar, who briefed him on the zone’s rapid growth since its establishment in 2015. Spread over 3.56 square kilometres, the FTZ integrates bonded warehousing, logistics, processing, customs clearance, and air freight services. It has established trade links with 118 countries, exporting products ranging from electric vehicles and batteries to solar cells, high-tech goods, and auto parts.
Officials informed the president that the FTZ is connected by road, rail, and air to both Asia and Europe, with its own international airport. The zone is directly linked to Pakistan via the Sost port in Gilgit-Baltistan, just 400 kilometres away, and to Gwadar port at a distance of 2,000 kilometres, facilitating smooth handling of imports and exports.
President Zardari also toured stalls and kiosks representing several countries, including Central Asian republics, European nations, South Korea, and Japan. He was further briefed on the digital trade centre established in 2024, which now hosts more than 5,400 companies, as well as the cross-border e-commerce exhibition centre showcasing duty-free products from across Central Asia, Europe, and beyond.
Another highlight of the briefing was the “Two Countries, Twin Parks” initiative, which includes an authorised Uzbekistan industrial park enabling warehouse-to-warehouse delivery within 72 hours. A Kyrgyzstan-backed park, still under development, is planned for automotive assembly and LED production. Senator Saleem Mandviwalla, Sindh Minister Nasir Hussain Shah, along with Pakistan’s Ambassador to China and the Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan, accompanied the president during his visit.
