Ahsan Iqbal Shares New Trade Plan for Pakistan

Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal has shared a plan to connect Central Asian trade with the Arabian Sea by transforming Pakistan's CAREC transport routes into economic corridors.

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• The minister remarked the focus should move beyond simply allowing trucks to travel through the routes.
• The minister remarked border procedures should include advance electronic information, compatible operating hours, coordinated processes and fewer repeated checks.
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Speaking at the 25th Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation (CAREC) Ministerial Conference in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, Iqbal remarked CAREC Corridors 5 and 6 could connect Central Asia with Pakistan's Arabian Sea routes and generate economic activity along the way. Ahsan Iqbal Reveals Plan to Revive Pakistan Railways.

Meanwhile, the minister remarked the focus should move beyond simply allowing trucks to travel through the routes. The corridors should enable businesses to move goods reliably and profitably while supporting investment, exports, jobs and local economic activity.

He remarked Pakistan needs to complete the transport chain by upgrading CAREC roads, modernizing border facilities at Torkham and Chaman, improving rail freight capacity through the proposed ML-1 upgrade, and strengthening links with dry ports and seaports.

In practice, the minister additionally proposed establishing logistics and production hubs at strategic locations along the corridors. These could include cold storage, packaging, warehousing and light manufacturing facilities to support turn transit activity into exports and employment.

He pressed greater digital connectivity throughout the CAREC region. He remarked Pakistan's Single Window system could provide a foundation for integrating digital trade processes with regional partners and reducing paperwork at borders.

Meanwhile, the minister remarked border procedures should include advance electronic information, compatible operating hours, coordinated processes and fewer repeated checks. He remarked the performance of corridors should additionally be measured through indicators such as border delays, delivery times, local employment and participation of small and medium-sized enterprises. Ahsan Iqbal Announces 15, 000 Jobs for Karachi.

He additionally called on CAREC countries to coordinate the planning and development of cross-border projects, employ common standards and align investment and construction schedules. The Asian Development Bank could support mobilize financing, including private investment, he went on.

He remarked Pakistan's location at the intersection of Central Asia, South Asia and maritime routes could assist it backing regional trade, digital integration and the development of regional value chains. Stay Connected with ProPakistani.

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Taken together, the developments around ahsan Iqbal Shares New Trade Plan for Pakistan point to a situation that is still moving, and the coming days should bring more clarity.