Pakistan reaffirmed its commitment to transforming the broader region into a dynamic hub of trade, transit, and connectivity as the two-day Regional Transport Ministers’ Conference 2025 (RTMC-25) and accompanying Expo commenced Thursday at the Jinnah Convention Centre.
Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar formally inaugurated the event, joined by Federal Ministers Abdul Aleem Khan (Communications), Muhammad Hanif Abbasi (Railways), and Muhammad Junaid Anwar (Maritime Affairs). The conference has drawn transport ministers and senior officials from Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Iran, Belarus, Turkmenistan, Sri Lanka, and the Maldives, along with representatives of the Asian Development Bank (ADB), Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO), International Road Transport Union (IRU), and United Nations agencies.
Welcoming participants, Abdul Aleem Khan said the gathering underscored a shared regional vision of integrated transport systems that connect communities, boost trade, and drive mutual prosperity. “In today’s rapidly changing world, efficient transport systems are no longer a luxury but a necessity,” he remarked.
The minister noted that Pakistan’s strategic position at the crossroads of Asia, Europe, and the Middle East offers immense potential to strengthen connectivity networks. Over the past decade, Pakistan has made major investments in infrastructure, including an expanded network of motorways, highways, and transport corridors, which have reduced travel times, cut trade costs, and improved the movement of goods, he said.
Highlighting Pakistan’s growing role as a regional transit hub, Khan said RTMC-25 provides a vital platform to identify priority transport routes, harmonize regulations, and explore joint investments in logistics and infrastructure. He expressed confidence that the conference’s deliberations would yield innovative ideas, stronger partnerships, and tangible outcomes to advance regional integration.
Later, Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar and Minister Abdul Aleem Khan visited the RTMC-25 Expo, which showcased a wide range of ongoing and upcoming transport and infrastructure projects.
Prominent dignitaries attending the main session included Ms. Farzaneh Sadegh, Minister of Roads and Urban Development of Iran; Abdulkadir Uraloglu, Minister of Transport and Infrastructure of Türkiye; Abdul Latheef Mohamed, Minister of State for Transport of the Maldives; Nurlun Sauranbayev, Minister of Transport of Kazakhstan; Dr. Rumaih bin Mohammed Al-Rumaih, Vice Minister of Transport of Saudi Arabia; Rahman Hummatov, Deputy Minister of Digital Development and Transport of Azerbaijan; Sergei Dubina, Deputy Minister of Transport and Communications of Belarus; Yagmyrov Kakajan, Head of International Relations and Logistics, Ministry of Automobile Transport of Turkmenistan; Asad Majeed Khan, Secretary General of ECO; Umberto de Pretto, representative of IRU; and, via video link, Dmitry Zverev, Deputy Minister of Transport of the Russian Federation, and Choriyev Jasurbek Ergashevich, Deputy Minister of Transport of Uzbekistan.
In their remarks, Railways Minister Muhammad Hanif Abbasi and Maritime Affairs Minister Muhammad Junaid Anwar emphasized the importance of multimodal connectivity—across road, rail, and maritime sectors—to ensure sustainable regional growth and economic integration.
