Minister for Planning, Development, and Special Initiatives Professor Ahsan Iqbal invited member countries of the Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation (CAREC) to link their value chains with Pakistan’s Special Economic Zones and explore opportunities for collaborative industrial clusters. He emphasized leveraging Pakistan’s preferential trade arrangements with China, ASEAN, and the Middle East.
Speaking at the opening of the fifth annual CAREC Institute Research Conference, organized with the University of Sargodha, Ahsan Iqbal highlighted the significance of the two-day event in advancing regional cooperation in trade and facilitation.
The conference, titled “CAREC Connectivity: Promoting Trade and Trade Facilitation,” brought together diverse participants from national and international institutions.
The event’s co-organizers included the Islamic Development Bank, Pakistan Single Window, Allama Iqbal Open University, International Road Transport Union, DAI, SDPI, PIFFA, and ECO Science Foundation.
Ahsan Iqbal described the conference as both timely and necessary, noting that in the face of climate crises, geopolitical tensions, and rapid technological change, regional cooperation has become essential.
He pointed out that intra-regional trade among CAREC nations, excluding China, currently accounts for just 7% of total trade—significantly lower than ASEAN’s 22%. This gap, he said, is caused by weak infrastructure and fragmented policies, not geographical constraints.
Quoting economist Paul Collier, he remarked that geography presents opportunity—not fate—if utilized wisely.
The minister noted that CAREC’s nearly two billion people and rich natural resources offer immense development potential, urging unified efforts and shared strategies to realize this.
Ahsan Iqbal introduced Pakistan’s development framework, “URAAN Pakistan,” which is structured around five pillars: Exports, Equity and Empowerment, E-Pakistan, Environment, and Energy & Infrastructure. This framework is designed in alignment with CAREC’s Vision 2030.
He elaborated on Pakistan’s push to grow high-value exports—such as IT, halal food, and engineering—and emphasized the importance of youth empowerment and digital skills. With $3.5 billion in IT exports and 10 GW of solar projects in the pipeline, Pakistan is positioning itself as a trade and logistics hub for the region.
He also mentioned how Pakistan Single Window has dramatically reduced customs clearance time from 8 days to under 48 hours, and it is now being integrated into Central Asian corridors to enhance digital trade across the region.
Under the TIR Convention, he said Pakistan has facilitated cargo routes from China to Central Asia and the Middle East, cutting costs and delivery times. He stressed the need to resolve issues like document harmonization and border delays through regional cooperation.
The minister said agreements with DP World and NLC are already supporting multimodal transport between Central Asia and the UAE via Pakistani ports.
He said Pakistan has added over 3,000 km of roads and 11 GW of power generation as CPEC continues to be a regional connectivity enabler. Gwadar Port is being developed into a hub with a Free Zone to attract global investment.
He added that Phase II of CPEC focuses on industrial cooperation, inviting CAREC countries to invest in manufacturing, logistics, and food processing sectors through joint ventures in Pakistan’s SEZs.
Ahsan Iqbal emphasized energy as the cornerstone of connectivity, noting Pakistan’s commitment to regional projects like CASA-1000, which connects hydropower from Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan to Pakistan and Afghanistan.
He also highlighted Pakistan’s shift to renewable energy, with over 30% of new energy investments in solar, wind, and hydro. A national solar initiative targets 10,000 MW by 2027. He proposed a CAREC Green Energy Corridor to link energy producers and consumers across the region.
Under the E-Pakistan initiative, Pakistan is digitizing government services, promoting fintech, and supporting freelancers and startups—who earned over $1 billion in 2024 alone.
He proposed establishing a CAREC Digital Trade Corridor, comprising smart logistics, e-customs, and real-time, paperless trade systems.
He urged that regional integration must start with building trust, advocating for harmonized education standards, faculty and student exchanges, and expanded cooperation among CAREC think tanks.
He said Pakistan is aligning its industrial strategy, workforce training, and logistics education with the needs of regional markets and is also easing visa procedures for businesspeople and academics.
The minister concluded by reaffirming Pakistan’s strong commitment to the CAREC agenda, pledging full cooperation and leadership in driving the region toward shared goals of prosperity and development.
Professor Dr. Qaiser Abbas, Vice Chancellor of the University of Sargodha, highlighted CAREC’s role in fostering sustainable development, interdependence, and economic growth across Central and South Asia.
He emphasized that Pakistan, through URAAN Pakistan, can play a transformative role in promoting green energy, digital commerce, and regional connectivity.
He said that development must be built on knowledge and youth engagement, not just infrastructure. Universities, he noted, should be seen as central to regional cooperation.
Dr. Abbas reaffirmed that the University of Sargodha was committed to supporting CAREC through research, human resource development, and policy guidance.
Referring to Minister Ahsan Iqbal’s remarks, he emphasized that Pakistan was no longer just a route but was fast becoming a key regional hub under the URAAN framework.
He noted with pride that Pakistan’s IT sector has crossed $3.5 billion in exports and is empowering millions of youth with digital skills, strengthening both the country and its regional partnerships.
He proposed the creation of a CAREC University Network to facilitate joint research, unify educational standards, and enable young people to actively contribute to regional development.
He stressed that sustainable development in CAREC depends not just on infrastructure but also on youth leadership, research, and regional cooperation.
He reiterated that the University of Sargodha would continue to provide intellectual leadership and research support to the CAREC region in future initiatives.
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