LAHORE:SAARC Chamber of Commerce and Industry former President Iftikhar Ali Malik on Sunday congratulated Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for successfully hosting the two-day Regional Transport Ministers Conference in Islamabad, which focused on transport cooperation frameworks and investment partnerships among participating countries.
In a statement issued here, Iftikhar Ali Malik said Pakistan must transform its strategic geographic connectivity into tangible economic opportunities by linking the region with the global economy through an integrated network of road, rail, air, maritime, energy, and digital corridors. He added that Pakistan’s vision should aim to convert this natural advantage into a driver of sustainable growth, regional cooperation, and shared prosperity.
He said Pakistan should continue to strengthen its road and rail links with Iran, Afghanistan, and Central Asian Republics to promote regional integration and unlock new markets. The transformation of geographic connectivity into economic strength, he added, would not only benefit Pakistan but also advance collective regional progress, positioning the country as a central gateway for trade, transit, and investment in the 21st century.
Highlighting Pakistan’s unique geo-economic position, Iftikhar Ali Malik said the country, situated at the crossroads of South Asia, Central Asia, the Middle East, and China, has immense potential to serve as a trade and energy hub for regional and global markets. He added that Pakistan’s expanding transport infrastructure has improved the movement of goods, reduced travel time, and lowered trade costs, thereby strengthening its role as a regional transit route.
Terming the Islamabad conference a major success, he said it brought together transport ministers from Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Iran, Belarus, Turkmenistan, Sri Lanka, and the Maldives, along with representatives of the Asian Development Bank, Economic Cooperation Organization, International Road Transport Union, and UN agencies.
He said it was a positive sign that Pakistan is ready to play a leading role in developing integrated transport systems to promote trade and regional cooperation, adding that the region shares a common goal of building efficient transport networks to support economic growth and sustainable development.