{
  "id": 10707989,
  "title": "Ahsan Iqbal Shares New Trade Plan for Pakistan",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/29/ahsan-iqbal-shares-new-trade-plan-for-pakistan",
  "topic": "tech",
  "section": "Tech",
  "published": "2026-09-29T14:23:43.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "ProPakistani",
    "slug": "propakistani",
    "url": "https://propakistani.pk/2026/09/29/ahsan-iqbal-shares-new-trade-plan-for-pakistan/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal unveiled a strategy to link Central Asian trade with the Arabian Sea by converting Pakistan's CAREC transport routes into economic corridors. Addressing the 25th Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation (CAREC) Ministerial Conference in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, Iqbal highlighted how CAREC Corridors 5 and 6 could facilitate trade between Central Asia and Pakistan's Arabian Sea routes, thereby boosting economic activity throughout the route.\n\nIqbal stressed that the corridors should facilitate smoother and more profitable transportation of goods, thereby promoting investment, exports, job creation, and overall local economic development. To fully realize this vision, Pakistan must complete the transport network by upgrading CAREC roads, modernizing border checkpoints at Torkham and Chaman, expanding rail freight capacity through the proposed ML-1 upgrade, and enhancing connections with dry ports and seaports.\n\nIqbal suggested the establishment of logistics and production hubs at key points along the corridors, including facilities for cold storage, packaging, warehousing, and light manufacturing, to convert transit activity into exports and employment. He advocated for enhanced digital connectivity across the CAREC region, proposing that Pakistan's Single Window system serve as a foundation for integrating digital trade processes with regional partners and reducing border paperwork.\n\nThe minister emphasized the need to streamline border procedures, incorporating advance electronic information, synchronized operating hours, coordinated processes, and minimizing repeated checks. He proposed measuring the performance of the corridors using metrics like border delays, delivery times, local employment, and participation of small and medium-sized enterprises. Iqbal also called for greater coordination among CAREC countries in planning and developing cross-border projects, using common standards, and synchronizing investment and construction schedules.\n\nHe suggested that the Asian Development Bank could play a crucial role in mobilizing financing, including private investment, to support these initiatives. Iqbal highlighted Pakistan's strategic position at the nexus of Central Asia, South Asia, and maritime routes, noting that it could leverage this unique position to foster regional trade, digital integration, and the development of regional value chains.",
  "summary": "Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal has shared a plan to connect Central Asian trade with the Arabian Sea by transforming Pakistan’s … Read More The post Ahsan Iqbal Shares New Trade Plan for Pakistan appeared first on ProPakistani .",
  "key_points": [
    "Ahsan Iqbal proposes linking Central Asian trade with Arabian Sea via CAREC routes.",
    "CAREC Corridors 5 and 6 could boost trade between Central Asia and Pakistan's Arabian Sea routes."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}