Pakistan receives first Kyrgyz shipment via China corridor, reducing reliance on Afghanistan

Pakistan has received its first shipment of goods from Kyrgyzstan through a newly operationalised trade corridor via China, marking the launch of a route connecting Central Asia to its southern ports.

The shipment travelled through the Khunjerab Pass and Sost dry port under a transit arrangement facilitated by the National Logistics Corporation, according to a statement.

Under the new route, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan will gain direct access to Pakistan’s southern ports, offering an alternative to traditional transit through Afghanistan.

The development comes as security concerns and border tensions continue to disrupt Afghanistan-linked trade routes.

Officials said the corridor is expected to provide a more stable and predictable channel for transit trade while expanding regional connectivity.

The route is part of Pakistan’s broader strategy to strengthen trade links with Central Asia and position itself as a transit hub, with future performance dependent on infrastructure capacity and regional cooperation.