Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs, Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry, in a telephonic call on Thursday, directed the Transition Management Committee of Karachi Port Trust (KPT) to extend facilitation and briefing to the visiting delegation from Uzbekistan, emphasizing the potential for collaborative ventures in the maritime sector.
The Minister highlighted the importance of regional cooperation and underlined Pakistan’s commitment to exploring economic avenues within the framework of its expanding blue economy, particularly with Central Asian nations.
The Uzbek delegation, comprising three senior officials and business representatives, was led by Alisher Tukhtaev, the Ambassador of Uzbekistan to Pakistan. The purpose of the visit was to examine investment potential and partnership opportunities within the maritime and port infrastructure of Pakistan.
Their tour of KPT followed a recent meeting between the Ambassador and the Federal Minister in Islamabad, where both sides discussed the significance of building sustainable maritime linkages to support mutual economic growth, promote regional connectivity, and ensure long-term prosperity through ocean-based industries.
During the engagement, members of KPT’s Transition Management Committee, Abdullah Zaki and Khawaja M Zubair, presented detailed insights into Pakistan’s blue economy landscape, particularly focusing on the Karachi Port’s role in trade facilitation and development.
The discussions also touched upon projects involving clean bulk cargo handling, logistics connectivity, and Maritime Business District projects, underlining Pakistan’s commitment to diversified and sustainable maritime development.
The Uzbek delegation expressed keen interest in the terminal operations of the port and keenly noted the potential of port expansion and other commercial opportunities within the blue economy that Maritime sector of Pakistan offers.
They acknowledged Pakistan’s strategic position as a gateway to maritime trade and viewed the developments at KPT as a valuable opportunity to enhance Uzbekistan’s connectivity to global markets.
The delegation also visited South Asia Pakistan Terminals Limited (SAPTL), where they witnessed modern container handling operations, including the use of state-of-the-art gantry cranes and other advanced equipment deployed by terminal operators.
The visit underscored the growing sophistication and efficiency of Karachi Port’s operations and served as a meaningful step toward fostering Uzbekistan-Pakistan maritime cooperation.
