US and Kazakhstan Show Interest in Pakistan’s Strategic Ports
Islamabad: Pakistan’s major ports are drawing growing international attention, with both the United States and Kazakhstan expressing interest in investments aimed at enhancing regional connectivity and trade.
US Delegation Explores Investment Opportunities
Following a recent agreement on natural resources, a US delegation visited the Ministry of Maritime Affairs on Tuesday. Federal Secretary Syed Zafar Ali Shah briefed the delegation on Pakistan’s port facilities, operational capacity, and potential areas for foreign investment.
Key highlights included:
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Karachi Port handles 54% of Pakistan’s trade, with an annual capacity of 125 million tonnes.
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Infrastructure includes three private container terminals, bulk and liquid cargo facilities, and dry cargo berths.
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The port has improved its global ranking to 61st among 405 container ports.
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Recently, it successfully managed Pakistan’s largest-ever vessel, measuring 400 metres.
At Port Qasim, investment opportunities were presented in bulk, break-bulk, containerised cargo handling, and off-dock terminals. The Port Qasim Authority (PQA) also highlighted ongoing projects such as dredging of navigation channels, a coastal economic zone, and new LNG and multipurpose terminals.
The US delegation showed particular interest in LNG terminals and bulk cargo handling, recognizing their importance for Pakistan’s economic development.
Kazakhstan Eyes Regional Connectivity
Separately, a Kazakh delegation led by Transport Minister Nurlan Sauranbayev met Pakistani officials to explore maritime cooperation. Discussions focused on developing multimodal transport corridors connecting Central Asia to the Arabian Sea through Pakistan’s ports.
Ports including Karachi, Port Qasim, and Gwadar were identified as vital gateways for Central Asian trade.
Federal Secretary Shah emphasized the strategic position of Pakistan’s ports, offering access to South Asia, Central Asia, and the Gulf. He added that Kazakhstan could particularly benefit from container handling, logistics, and off-dock facilities under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
Officials from KPT and PQA further highlighted the available spare capacity to handle additional Central Asian cargo.
