ISLAMABAD: Kazakhstan’s Ambassador to Pakistan Yerzhan Kistafin has said that a proposed railway corridor linking Central Asia to Pakistan’s seaports could transform regional trade and provide landlocked states direct access to the Arabian Sea.
In an exclusive interaction with media in Islamabad, the ambassador said the rail project would connect Kazakhstan with Pakistan via Turkmenistan and Afghanistan, extending to the ports of Karachi and Gwadar.
He said the initiative was part of a long-term regional connectivity strategy, adding that political commitment from participating countries had strengthened in recent years.
According to the ambassador, the railway would pass from Kazakhstan through Turkmenistan into Afghanistan’s western region before entering Pakistan at Chaman and joining the national rail network.
He noted that Afghanistan should be viewed as a bridge for regional trade rather than an obstacle, emphasizing that connectivity could promote economic stability and peace.
The planned Afghan segment would span around 687 kilometres, with construction expected to take approximately three years after final agreements are concluded.
Kistafin said Kazakhstan would finance the project, describing it as a mutually beneficial investment rather than foreign aid.
The ambassador praised Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for maintaining Pakistan’s Central Asia policy and prioritizing regional connectivity despite political transitions.
He said current trade between Pakistan and Kazakhstan stood at about $300 million annually but could rise significantly once transportation barriers were removed.
A study by the Pakistan Business Council has estimated that bilateral trade could reach up to $14 billion following the completion of the rail corridor.
Kistafin said the project would integrate Pakistan into major Eurasian trade networks while positioning the country as a transit hub linking South Asia with Central Asia, Europe and the Middle East.
He added that momentum behind the initiative increased after last year’s visit by Pakistan’s Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir to Kazakhstan, which focused on economic cooperation, infrastructure security and regional connectivity.
In addition to infrastructure development, Kazakhstan has eased visa procedures for Pakistani business travellers and is working toward resuming direct flights between the two countries.
The ambassador expressed confidence that enhanced connectivity would strengthen economic ties and promote long-term regional stability.