ISLAMABAD: Communications Minister Abdul Aleem Khan reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to enhancing trade through multiple routes, including rail, road, and air, during his address at the Ministerial Summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) in Tianjin, China. He emphasized Pakistan’s role in regional connectivity and expressed interest in developing trade corridors through China, Afghanistan, and Iran.
Khan highlighted Pakistan’s progress under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), particularly in road infrastructure, and stressed the need to expand trade beyond Afghanistan and Iran. He also pointed to the importance of Gwadar and Karachi’s international-standard cargo ports in facilitating this growth. The minister further outlined the significance of Khunjerab in the north and coastal gateways in Pakistan’s broader trade strategy.
He particularly noted that the proposed Uzbekistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan Railway Project could serve as a transformative initiative, enhancing regional trade and connectivity.
