Gwadar Port Access: Landmark Deal on the Horizon Between Pakistan and Kazakhstan

Pakistan and Kazakhstan are close to signing a landmark agreement that will give Astana access to Gwadar Port, with the deal expected during the Kazakh President’s visit in November. A high-level Kazakh delegation will visit Islamabad in September to finalize details.

While Kazakhstan initially sought a terminal at Karachi Port to support exports to the EU and US, Pakistan is pushing for Gwadar, aiming to make it a key transit hub for Central Asia.

During talks between Kazakh Ambassador Yerzhan Kistafin and Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry, both sides agreed to deepen maritime cooperation. The minister proposed joint ventures at Karachi and Gwadar ports and highlighted the Gwadar Free Zone’s potential, while stressing Pakistan’s vision of a regional consortium with Central Asian states.

Kistafin welcomed the proposals, confirming a ministerial-level Kazakh delegation will soon visit Pakistan to discuss logistics and trade. Pakistan emphasized its ports as vital gateways for landlocked Central Asian nations, offering access to global markets and strengthening regional trade ties.