Pakistan on Wednesday invited Kazakh investors to explore investment opportunities and joint ventures at its ports, including projects in Gwadar’s free zones aimed at improving Kazakhstan’s access to regional and global trade routes.
Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry extended the invitation during a meeting with an 11-member Kazakh delegation headed by Timur Turlov, chief executive officer of Freedom Holding Corp, according to an official statement.
The discussions focused on potential cooperation in transhipment operations, off-dock and multipurpose terminals, as well as dry-dock and floating-dock facilities at Pakistani ports.
Chaudhry underscored the strategic role of Karachi and Gwadar in regional trade, saying Pakistan’s maritime infrastructure presents substantial opportunities for foreign investors. The Kazakh delegation showed keen interest in Pakistan’s maritime sector, signalling increasing international confidence in the country’s economic and maritime policies.
The minister also encouraged Freedom Holding Corp. to participate in Pakistan’s blue economy initiatives, highlighting Pakistani ports as key gateways for Kazakhstan and other landlocked Central Asian countries to access markets in the Gulf, Africa, and Southeast Asia.
Both sides also discussed improving road, rail, and air connectivity between Pakistan and Central Asian states, particularly Kazakhstan, to boost regional trade integration.
Turlov expressed optimism about the growth of Pakistan’s maritime industry and reaffirmed his company’s interest in pursuing long-term strategic investments aligned with Pakistan’s economic development goals.
