Pakistan can earn $3 billion annually in transit and logistics from Central Asia

A research report by Ampec Strategies has revealed that Pakistan can earn $3 billion annually in transit and logistics from Central Asian states.

The launch ceremony of Ampec Strategies’ research report Strategic Framework for Trade, Skills, Tourism and Transit Integration 2026-35 was held in Islamabad, with Federal Minister for Education and Professional Training Dr. Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui as the chief guest.

The Ampec Strategies research report presents a roadmap for Pakistan to become the preferred southern gateway for trade, energy, tourism, skilled manpower, logistics and transit for the five Central Asian countries of Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan.

According to the report, the total bilateral trade between Pakistan and Central Asian states in 2024 was about $525 million, which is very low compared to the economic potential of the region. A target of increasing bilateral trade to $5 billion by 2035 has been proposed.

The research report has identified trade, energy, tourism, human resources, logistics and transit integration as the five pillars of economic cooperation and stated that the next 10 years are decisive and with timely steps, Pakistan can become an important economic bridge between Central Asia, China and the Arabian Sea.

Federal Minister for Education and Professional Training Dr. Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, while addressing the ceremony, stressed the importance of equipping the youth with modern skills and preparing human resources according to the changing economic needs of the region.

He said that more than 60 percent of Pakistan’s population consists of youth, according to the vision of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, the government is pursuing a policy of making as many youth as possible skilled according to the requirements of the modern era.

Former NewTech Chairperson Gulmina Bilal Ahmed said that Pakistan’s skilled workforce needs to be linked to the needs of Central Asia’s health, construction, mining, IT, agriculture and hospitality sectors, skills certification, skills diplomacy and bilateral labor agreements can create new economic opportunities.

Aziz Ahmed of Ampec Strategies said that Pakistan needs to become the preferred southern gateway for trade, energy, tourism, skilled workforce, logistics and transit to Central Asia, rather than just increasing its exports.