Kazakhstan offers to fully fund new trade corridors

Kazakhstan's Ambassador to Pakistan, Yerzhan Kistafin, has offered full investment for constructing new trade corridors through China to Central Asian states. The initiative seeks to replace difficult existing land routes with improved connectivity, boosting bilateral and regional trade, according to an official statement issued Saturday.

In a meeting with Federal Minister for Communications Abdul Aleem Khan, Kistafin confirmed that the president of Kazakhstan's will make a two-day official visit to Pakistan in the first week of November. The visit is expected to produce major breakthroughs in bilateral ties. Ahead of the visit, Joint Working Groups between Pakistan and Kazakhstan will be established in the fields of commerce and transport. Kistafin expressed Kazakhstan's strong interest in expanding bilateral trade with Pakistan and discussed the existing corridor from Kashgar to Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan. He also proposed upgrades to the Karachi-Chaman-Kandahar trade route, which is currently in use.

Aleem Khan assured the Kazakh Ambassador to Pakistan of full cooperation, reiterating Pakistan's commitment to building trade corridors to Central Asia via China, Afghanistan, and Iran. He cited recent international conferences in Belarus and Iran, noting the role of regional states in promoting cross-border trade through land routes. The minister said Pakistan aims to develop an inter-country road network similar to the Karakoram Highway. Pending matters with the National Logistics Cell (NLC) regarding trade agreements were also reviewed during the meeting.

Federal Secretary for Communications Ali Sher Mehsud attended the meeting.