Landlocked Central Asian economies are looking for new routes to world markets. Pakistan's ports and highways could be part of the answer — but only if the practical details are solved.
- Central Asia's landlocked states depend on transit through neighboring countries to reach the sea
- Pakistan offers Arabian Sea access through Karachi, Port Qasim, and Gwadar
- A proposed Uzbekistan–Afghanistan–Pakistan railway has been under discussion for years, with preliminary agreements reported in 2025
- Customs, security, and transit costs matter as much as physical infrastructure
Why landlocked economies look south
For a landlocked country, the distance to a port is a permanent cost on every export and import. Routes to the north and west are long and often congested, which is why governments and traders keep exploring southern alternatives. A shorter path to the Arabian Sea could lower freight costs and diversify trade options, a point that connects to the shipping-lane debate we covered in Red Sea Shipping Disruptions and Global Trade.
The infrastructure question
The proposed Uzbekistan–Afghanistan–Pakistan railway is the most visible idea, and it remains at an early stage. Road corridors, border crossings, and dry ports matter just as much. Pakistan's own network of motorways and the CPEC route provide the northern end of what could become a continuous trade chain from Central Asia to Gwadar.
Trade facilitation is the quiet multiplier
Tracks and roads are necessary but not sufficient. Harmonised customs procedures, digital documentation, transit insurance, and predictable fees often decide whether a route is actually used. These are areas where regional programs such as CAREC, supported by the Asian Development Bank, have focused for years.
Where IOEC fits
IOEC's Central Asian Connectivity Hub is at an early stage, centered on relationship-building and feasibility discussions across logistics, cross-border energy partnerships, and trade facilitation. We describe it that way deliberately: sound corridors are built on realistic assessment and patient partnerships.
Sources & further reading
See the CAREC Program, UNCTAD's pages on landlocked developing countries, and the Asian Development Bank in Pakistan.