Pakistan proposes six trade routes to Russia

KARACHI: Pakistan has identified six potential trade corridors linking its southern ports to Russia, Central Asia and Europe, aiming to position itself as a regional logistics hub amid growing geopolitical interest in transcontinental connectivity.

Speaking at the closing session of the Kazan Forum, Federal Minister for Communications Abdul Aleem Khan said Pakistan intends to function not just as a transit point but as an “economic bridge” connecting South Asia with Central Asia, Russia, and beyond.

The proposed routes include road links from Karachi and Gwadar to Moscow via China, Afghanistan, Iran, Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan. A rail project from Mazar-i-Sharif in Afghanistan to Kohat in Pakistan is also under consideration, with an estimated cost of $633 million.

Khan noted that the Gwadar Port has already commenced cargo operations and emphasised Pakistan’s role in facilitating Central Asia’s long-sought access to warm waters. He also cited increased activity by the National Logistics Cell (NLC), which has provided cargo services to Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan since 2023.

“Pakistan is committed to enhancing North-South connectivity,” Khan said. He highlighted the Sukkur-Hyderabad Motorway (M-6) as a key investment project and said Islamabad is working on a pilot railway corridor connecting to Russia via Iran.

Visa-on-arrival facilities introduced in 2023 for citizens of 126 countries were also aimed at encouraging trade and foreign investment, the minister added.

On the sidelines of the forum, Khan met with Russian Deputy Prime Minister Marat Khusnullin to discuss expanding bilateral cooperation, particularly in the transport and logistics sectors. Khusnullin welcomed Pakistan’s participation in the event and expressed interest in deeper collaboration across economic and cultural domains.

Khan reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to regional economic integration and thanked Russian President Vladimir Putin for hosting the forum, calling it a timely platform for strengthening Eurasian cooperation.