A high-level Kazakh delegation, headed by Transport Minister Nurlan Sauranbayev, met with Pakistani officials on Tuesday to explore enhanced collaboration in maritime operations and regional interconnectedness. The meeting, hosted by Federal Secretary Syed Zafar Ali Shah of the Ministry of Maritime Affairs, focused on leveraging Pakistan’s seaports and multimodal transport networks to connect Central Asia with the Arabian Sea.
Shah emphasized the strategic location of Pakistan’s ports, providing access to South Asia, Central Asia, the Gulf region, and beyond. He suggested Kazakhstan could utilize container management, logistics services, off-dock terminals, free trade zones, and other port infrastructure developed under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), highlighting Pakistan’s competitive tariff structure.
Representatives from the Karachi Port Trust (KPT) and Port Qasim Authority (PQA) showcased available capacity to manage cargo from Central Asia, while advocating for a dedicated multipurpose terminal at Gwadar port to facilitate sustained trade expansion. The visiting delegation received presentations on investment prospects and incentives at Karachi, Port Qasim, and Gwadar.
KPT Acting Chairman, Rear Admiral Ateeq-ur-Rehman, detailed existing port infrastructure and a planned 140-acre maritime business district. PQA Chairman Rear Admiral (Retd) Syed Moazzam Ilyas positioned Pakistan as a potential energy center and proposed joint ventures in off-dock terminals connected to rail systems for Central Asian commerce.
Additional Secretary, Umer Zaffar Shaikh, outlined Gwadar’s potential, highlighting full exemptions on duties and sales tax, its off-dock terminals, and its efficient land-sea route for Central Asian nations via the coastal highway.
Kazakh Transport Minister Sauranbayev conveyed significant enthusiasm for strengthening maritime ties and establishing enduring collaborative initiatives with Pakistan.