Pakistan Eyes Regional Trade Expansion Through Rail Corridors: Minister

Communications Minister Abdul Aleem Khan has reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to boosting regional trade through enhanced connectivity across rail, road, and air routes. Speaking at the Ministerial Summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) in Tianjin, China, he stressed Pakistan’s strategic interest in developing trade corridors with China, Afghanistan, and Iran. The minister highlighted significant progress under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), particularly in road infrastructure, and emphasized the government’s current focus on expanding trade beyond Pakistan’s borders via modern cargo ports in Gwadar and Karachi. He underscored the importance of Khunjerab in the north and the coastal gateways in the south as crucial nodes in the regional trade network. Abdul Aleem Khan also called attention to the proposed Uzbekistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan Railway Project, calling it a transformative initiative for regional connectivity and economic integration.