ISLAMABAD: Minister for Communications Asad Mahmood on Tuesday said Pakistan was vying to expand land connection with Iran, Azerbaijan, Russia and Eastern Europe with an aim to boost regional connectivity.

Talking to a seven-member delegation from Azerbaijan led by Minister for Digital Development and Transport Rashad Nabiyev, Asad Mahmood said regional connectivity would help boost economy of these countries and raise the living standards of people.

The minister told the delegation that the Pakistani government was expanding its land routes to nearby countries by laying a vast network of national highways in Balochistan. Both sides discussed road trade agreement and move towards a legal framework for trade in the region.

Mr Mahmood appreciated the Azeri delegation for visiting Pakistan and holding meetings with various ministry officials to strengthen bilateral ties.

Azerbaijan and Pakistan share the same agenda in terms of trade and commerce, the minister said, adding that both countries could further strengthen trade as well as public and cultural ties through land links and national highways.

“A road trade agreement will help in furthering bilateral ties to new heights,” Mr Mahmood said.

During the meeting, a task force was formed to develop a legal framework for road trade agreement. Communications Secretary and National Highways Authority (NHA) chairman retired Capt Mohammad Khurram Agha would be the focal person on behalf of the Pakistani government.

Rashad Nabiyev informed the communications minister that Azerbaijan had paved new roads for the promotion of trade and public transportation by laying its network of highways up till Bandar Abbas in Iran.

The Azeri minister emphasised that coordination between the two countries in terms of roads and transport was a guarantee of economic development throughout the region.

He said Pakistan could benefit by using Azerbaijan as a transit route to the West as the country had heavily invested in road infrastructure, railways and airports in some of its newly-developed areas.

Published in Dawn, July 19th, 2023