Federal Communications Minister Abdul Aleem Khan has said Pakistan wants to build trade corridors through China to improve road connectivity with Central Asian countries and expand regional commerce. He made the remarks during a meeting with Azerbaijan’s newly appointed ambassador to Pakistan, Irfan Davudov, where modern transport infrastructure and its role in strengthening regional trade were high on the agenda.
Khan also used the meeting to press for new opportunities for trade and investment between Pakistan and Azerbaijan, recalling his own recent visit to Azerbaijan and expressing optimism about expanding bilateral cooperation across economic sectors. He welcomed Davudov’s appointment and wished him success in his diplomatic role, while the two sides discussed ways to deepen bilateral relations, widen trade and promote cooperation in communications and infrastructure.
Ambassador Davudov, for his part, reaffirmed Azerbaijan’s commitment to closer diplomatic and economic ties with Pakistan, saying he would build on the strong relationship established by his predecessors. The meeting also recognised the contributions of former Azerbaijani ambassador Khazar Farhadov in strengthening relations between the two countries, and both sides reiterated their commitment to the longstanding friendship between Pakistan and Azerbaijan.
The road-corridor idea sits at the heart of the discussion. Overland routes through China would give Pakistan a direct road link to Central Asian markets, opening a new channel for goods and commerce alongside its existing partnerships, including with Azerbaijan. For a government keen to turn geography into trade, better roads to the north are a practical step, and the meeting signalled that both Islamabad and Baku see transport links as a shared route to deeper economic ties.
