PAKISTAN’S POTENTIAL AS A TRANSIT TRADE CORRIDOR AND TRANSPORTATION CHALLENGES

Introduction From a strategic perspective, Pakistan lies at the hub of Central Asia, Middle East and South Asia providing the most economical strategic link between the resource affluent Persian Gulf / Central Asia and the energy scarce wider South Asia. Pakistan also offers the shortest route to China / CARs vis-a-vis Iran / Turkey. Land locked Afghanistan now entering the reconstruction / rehabilitation phase, also finds its way through Pakistan. Moreover, the deep water Gwadar port being linked with major urban centers through coastal highway as well as planned /under construction network of motorways /rail offers comparatively superior opportunities to countries like China, Afghanistan and CARs, not only for mutual trade but also for their trade with the rest of the world.