Islamabad: Pakistan’s strategic seaports are rapidly emerging as key hubs for regional trade, attracting the attention of both the United States and Kazakhstan, which have expressed strong interest in investment and enhanced connectivity.
On Tuesday, a US delegation visited the Ministry of Maritime Affairs, where Federal Secretary Syed Zafar Ali Shah briefed them on the facilities, operational capacity, and investment opportunities available at Pakistan’s ports.
The delegation was informed that Karachi Port alone handles 54 percent of Pakistan’s trade with an annual capacity of nearly 125 million tons. The port is equipped with three private container terminals, bulk and liquid cargo facilities, and dry cargo berths. Recently, its global ranking improved to 61st among 405 container ports worldwide, and it successfully handled the country’s largest 400-meter-long vessel.
Discussions focused on investment opportunities at Port Qasim, including bulk, break-bulk, containerized cargo handling, and off-dock terminals. Port Qasim Authority (PQA) officials highlighted ongoing projects such as the dredging of navigation channels, the development of a coastal economic zone, and the expansion of LNG and multipurpose cargo terminals. The US delegation showed particular interest in LNG facilities and bulk cargo handling, describing Pakistan’s ports as crucial assets for the country’s economic growth.
Meanwhile, Kazakhstan’s interest also came to the fore when Transport Minister Nurlan Sauranbayev led a delegation to meet Pakistani officials. Discussions focused on enhancing maritime cooperation and strengthening multimodal transport corridors that link Central Asia to the Arabian Sea.
Pakistani officials emphasized the strategic position of Karachi, Port Qasim, and Gwadar, underscoring their role as gateways for Central Asian trade. Secretary Shah added that Kazakhstan could leverage container handling, logistics, and off-dock terminals under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
Both Karachi Port Trust (KPT) and PQA officials further underlined that Pakistan’s ports have significant additional capacity to manage Central Asian cargo, making them vital to the region’s long-term trade growth.
