ALMATY: Federal Minister for Investment Qaiser Ahmad Sheikh has reaffirmed Pakistan’s potential to emerge as a key trade and transit hub for Central Asian countries, highlighting its strategic geographical location, modernizing port infrastructure and growing investment opportunities.
Addressing the inaugural session of the Second TIANSHAN Forum for Central Asia Economic and Quality Investment in Almaty, Kazakhstan, the Minister said Pakistan was strategically positioned to provide landlocked Central Asian states with access to international maritime trade routes and global markets.
He highlighted Pakistan’s three major seaports — Karachi Port, Port Qasim and Gwadar Port — as vital gateways for facilitating regional trade, improving transportation networks and offering alternative routes for the movement of goods.
Emphasizing Karachi’s role as the country’s principal industrial and commercial centre, Qaiser Ahmad Sheikh said its well-established industrial base, financial institutions, business infrastructure and port facilities offered substantial opportunities for trade, industrial collaboration and foreign investment. He also stressed Gwadar’s potential to become an important pillar of regional connectivity and economic cooperation.
The Minister noted that Pakistan’s young population, which accounts for nearly 60 percent of the country’s total population, represented a significant demographic advantage, providing a dynamic workforce and strong prospects for sustainable economic growth.
He said the government, under the leadership of Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, was pursuing policies aimed at enhancing regional connectivity, meeting energy demands and establishing a business-friendly environment to attract both domestic and foreign investors.
Inviting regional and international investors to explore Pakistan’s investment potential, the Minister identified energy, infrastructure, logistics, transportation, manufacturing and trade as key sectors offering promising opportunities. He stressed that improved connectivity and dependable energy supplies were essential to unlocking the economic potential of the wider region.
Highlighting the importance of regional partnerships, he appreciated the role of the Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation (CAREC) Program in advancing transport connectivity, facilitating cross-border trade and promoting economic integration among member countries.
He described CAREC as an important platform for strengthening economic partnerships between Pakistan and Central Asian states, adding that greater regional cooperation could create new avenues for investment, trade and shared development.
Concluding his address, Qaiser Ahmad Sheikh said Pakistan’s strategic location, youthful workforce, industrial capabilities and extensive seaport infrastructure positioned it to serve as a vital link between Central Asian economies and international markets.
He emphasized that regional connectivity extended beyond linking roads, ports and markets, as it was ultimately about connecting economies, creating investment opportunities, generating employment and promoting sustainable prosperity across the region.
