Pakistan invites Kazakh investment in Gwadar, Karachi Port projects

Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry on Wednesday invited Kazakh investors to explore joint ventures at Pakistani ports, including opportunities in Gwadar’s free zones to enhance Kazakhstan’s access to regional and international trade markets.

The minister made the remarks during a meeting with an 11-member Kazakh delegation led by Timur Turlov, chief executive officer of Freedom Holding Corp, read an official statement.

During the meeting, both sides discussed prospects for cooperation in transhipment operations, off-dock and multipurpose terminals, and dry-dock and floating-dock facilities at Pakistani ports.

Chaudhry highlighted the strategic importance of Karachi and Gwadar in regional commerce and said Pakistan’s maritime infrastructure offers significant opportunities for international investors. The Kazakh delegation expressed strong interest in investing in the maritime sector, reflecting growing international confidence in the government’s economic and maritime policies.

The minister also invited Freedom Holding Corp. to participate in Pakistan’s blue economy initiatives, stressing the role of Pakistani ports as gateways for Kazakhstan and other landlocked Central Asian states to markets in the Gulf, Africa and Southeast Asia.

Discussions also covered potential collaboration on road, rail and air connectivity between Pakistan and Central Asian countries, particularly Kazakhstan, to strengthen regional trade integration.

Turlov expressed confidence in Pakistan’s developing maritime sector and reiterated his company’s interest in exploring long-term strategic investments aligned with Pakistan’s economic development priorities.