On 12 July 2023, the Headquarters of the Islamic Organization for Food Security (IOFS) hosted a meeting between the Assistant on Strategic Issues to the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, HE Mr. Asset Issekeshev and his technical team with an extensive delegation of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, that included esteemed businessmen, state and embassy officials. During the meeting, the dialogue was centered around developing translogistic routes between Central and South Asia. The discussions among the parties symbolized that the original concept of the IOFS, in strengthening logistics for food trade between OIC Member States, directly enhancing the state of food security, is developing into a reality.
The link between trade and its dependence on the efficiency of trade support structures, most importantly logistics services, is strongly acknowledged by the IOFS and its partners. This factor has also been a major hindrance to the growth of food trade from and to Central Asia and Kazakhstan, as the only available road routes were through countries that posed certain technical issues or challenges due to political stability (Iran and Afghanistan). In light of the abovementioned, an opportunity has been identified to overcome the challenge by representatives of Kazakhstan and Pakistan, with real steps being taken to open up trade routes from Central Asia to the Gwadar or Karachi Ports. To note, Gwadar port’s strategic location positions it as one of the main transportation hub in the Indian Ocean, and provides easy access to some of the world’s most vital sea lanes.
The representatives of the National Logistics Cell (NLC) company of Pakistan also informed the participants of the meeting that a number of trial trucks have been deployed to exploit the roads between the two regions, and massive trade inflow is envisioned in contrast to the current low trade balance levels. Moreover, direct air flights are about to be opened from Almaty, Kazakhstan to Lahor and Karachi, Pakistan, which will certainly boost further business relationships between the two countries and regions.
