Pakistan Joins International Transport Corridor Route from Belarus to Indian Ocean

Pakistan has officially joined the International Transport Corridor (ITC), which runs Belarus-Russia-Kazakhstan-Uzbekistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-ports of the Indian Ocean, the Uzbekistan Ministry of Transport has stated. The ITC will strengthen ties between Central and South Asian countries, whiloe for Belarus and Russia, both of which are under sanctions, it will provide additional access to the world ocean ports.

The Pakistan agreement was signed on September 8, as part of the framework of ‘international cooperation in the field of transport and logistics projects’ with the Pakistan Minister of Communications of Pakistan signing the document outlining the creation and development of a transport corridor leading from Belarus to Pakistan’s Indian Ocean ports.

In April this year, all countries part of the ITC met in Termez, Uzbekistan, where Belarus signed their end of the deal while Afghanistan and Pakistan announced the implementation of internal procedures for joining the project. A roadmap was signed at that meeting, including specific plans for the development of cargo transportation, analysis of cargo flows, introduction of electronic digital documents and optimisation of customs procedures.

Russia intends to take a direct interest part in this, which, in the context of sanctions restrictions, including in the logistics sector, needs additional access to the worlds ocean.

The Uzbekistan Minster of Transport, Ilkhom Rustamovich Makhkamov, said that “Pakistan’s accession to this large-scale project marks an important step in strengthening regional trade ties and accelerating the process of international cargo transportation through the ITC. The parties expect that the ITC will become an important link in the transport system of Eurasia, providing convenient and efficient routes for the transit of goods, strengthening economic cooperation between the participating countries.”

The complete development of the ITC also includes the construction of a railway that will connect Uzbekistan, Afghanistan and Pakistan and would significantly accelerate the delivery of goods along the route. The implementation of this project is already being discussed between the parties.