Islamabad: Pakistan’s Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs, Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry, has extended an invitation to Chinese investors to enhance their involvement in the nation’s ports, logistics, and maritime industries. This invitation aligns with the Pakistani government’s ambition to transform the country into a regional hub for transit trade, logistics, and industry.

According to Press Information Department, during his address at the Regional Transit Trade Hub Initiative in Beijing, organized by Jiang Tonland International Holdings, Minister Chaudhry emphasized the strengthening “All-Weather Strategic Partnership” between Pakistan and China. This partnership is advancing into a phase focused on connectivity, trade facilitation, logistics, industrial development, and sustainable economic growth.

Minister Chaudhry highlighted the evolving nature of the global trading system, which is increasingly shaped by digitalization, smart logistics, resilient supply chains, green shipping, and multimodal transport. He noted that regional partnerships and innovation are becoming critical in this new landscape.

Pakistan’s strategic location, the minister stated, positions it as a natural gateway for regional and international trade. He mentioned ongoing reforms within key maritime institutions such as the Karachi Port Trust, Port Qasim Authority, Gwadar Port Authority, and the Pakistan National Shipping Corporation, aimed at developing Pakistan into a modern maritime, logistics, and industrial hub.

The minister described the Regional Transit Trade Hub initiative as complementary to Pakistan’s economic priorities. It presents opportunities for collaboration in areas such as port modernization, multimodal transport corridors, logistics parks, industrial infrastructure, maritime services, digital trade facilitation, and value-added logistics.

Highlighting Gwadar Port as a flagship project of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), Chaudhry pointed to investment opportunities in port operations, logistics, warehousing, free zone development, and maritime industries. He assured Chinese enterprises of Pakistan’s commitment to providing a transparent and investment-friendly environment conducive to long-term partnerships.

The minister expressed gratitude to Jiang Tonland International Holdings for facilitating discussions on regional connectivity and economic cooperation. Reaffirming Pakistan’s dedication to strengthening ties with China, Chaudhry called for enhanced cooperation to build a more connected, resilient, and prosperous future through increased trade and investment.