Kazakhstan dispatches first trucks carrying goods to Pakistan via new trade route

Kazakhstan has dispatched the first trucks transporting products to Pakistan via Afghanistan as part of a pilot operation to begin road trade between the two nations via a new route.

Kazakhstan's Vice Minister of Trade and Integration, Kairat Torebayev, announced the news at a press conference on Monday, according to Kazakh media.

He stated that Kazakhstan was discussing with Pakistan's National Logistics Cell (NLC) for safe regional trade.

According to him, the return distance between Pakistan and Kazakhstan is 4,000 kilometers, which is not a huge distance in terms of regional connectivity and development.

Afghanistan, as a bridge connecting Central Asia, India, and the Persian Gulf, offers Kazakhstan access to Pakistan's seaports of Karachi and Gwadar, and from there to India, the Middle East, and Africa.

He stated that Kazakhstan will organize the first Kazakh-Afghan business meeting in Astana on August 3 to enhance bilateral commercial ties.