Pakistan is advancing a plan to establish direct maritime corridors to East Africa, aiming to unlock a massive 500 million-strong consumer market and slash shipping expenses, following high-level discussions with Rwandan officials.

The ambitious proposal was a central topic during a meeting between Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry and Rwandan Ambassador Harerimana Fatou held at the minister’s office today.

Minister Chaudhry detailed plans to create direct shipping routes from Karachi Port to strategic logistics centers such as Djibouti and Mombasa. These ports serve as major transshipment hubs providing crucial access to the East African Community (EAC) countries, including Rwanda.

‘The initiative involves opening a direct shipping line from Karachi to Djibouti, substantially reducing transit times and shipping costs by bypassing intermediate ports,’ the minister stated, adding that this would enable smoother onward transport to neighboring ports.

Pakistan is also working to develop Gwadar Port into a specialized export hub with a focus on trade with Africa. Situated on the Arabian Sea, Gwadar”s strategic location is expected to enhance the nation”s port capacity and its connection to major Indian Ocean trade routes.

As a landlocked nation, Rwanda stands to benefit significantly by leveraging these East African ports as gateways for its imports and exports, utilizing established inland road and railway networks that link the coastal hubs to EAC nations.

The current commercial exchange between the two countries involves Rwanda exporting agricultural products like tea, coffee, avocados, and pulses, while Pakistan supplies pharmaceuticals, textiles, surgical instruments, electric bikes, and agricultural technologies.

The creation of these direct maritime links is anticipated to lower logistics costs, speed up deliveries, and improve export competitiveness. The minister also noted it would encourage business-to-business cooperation through dedicated trade forums between Pakistan and EAC countries.

Both governments expressed strong economic support for the initiative, which aims to expand access to new markets across the EAC, a region with a combined GDP exceeding $300 billion. The enhanced connectivity is expected to spur economic growth and deepen commercial ties between Pakistan and Rwanda.