At CAREC meet Pakistan proposes AI-led digitalisation of border processes

Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal has advocated for harmonizing customs regulations and implementing artificial intelligence to digitize border procedures throughout the Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation (CAREC) region. At the CAREC Ministerial Conference, Iqbal addressed the media, emphasizing that the region must transition from discussing connectivity to realizing tangible trade routes.

He stressed the necessity to align customs regulations, digitize border processes, and eliminate delays that hinder cargo movement. Iqbal also presented Pakistan's proposal for a CAREC Digital Corridor and the application of AI to expedite trade and connectivity, making them more efficient and profitable.

Pakistan, situated strategically linking Central Asia, South Asia, China, and the Arabian Sea, is poised to leverage geo-economics to foster cooperation, generate employment, and foster shared prosperity across the region, Iqbal stated. He further highlighted that the future of regional prosperity hinges on the extent to which countries collaborate, establish common platforms, and create new avenues for investment.

Iqbal underscored that governments cannot single-handedly construct the required scale of connectivity. "By empowering the private sector and reinforcing public-private partnerships, CAREC nations can hasten investment in roads, railways, infrastructure, and digital networks," he said.

The minister disclosed that Pakistan's primary objective, as it prepares to host the subsequent CAREC Conference in 2027, is to advance practical collaboration that interconnects economies, streamlines trade, and transforms the region's geography into a shared opportunity.