ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has invited Saudi Arabia to invest in a proposed motorway linking Karachi Port to Hyderabad, according to an official statement issued on Saturday following talks between the two countries on the sidelines of an Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) meeting in Istanbul.

The meeting between Pakistan’s Communications Minister Abdul Aleem Khan and Saudi Minister for Transport and Logistics Saleh bin Nasser Al-Jasser took place during the OIC gathering, where member states discussed transport integration, logistics and regional trade connectivity.

“During the discussions, Federal Minister Abdul Aleem Khan formally invited the Saudi Government to invest in the M-10 Motorway, featuring a new alignment from Karachi Port to Hyderabad,” the statement said.

“He emphasized that Pakistan is keen on fostering Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) with Saudi Arabia to modernize its transport sector,” it added.

The statement said the discussions focused on enhancing bilateral cooperation in transport, maritime affairs and regional connectivity, with Islamabad seeking to strengthen trade corridors and upgrade port-linked infrastructure.

Al-Jasser expressed interest in modernizing Pakistan’s communications sector and highlighted the importance of digitalization and road surveillance systems, the statement said, adding that both sides also discussed expanding flight operations between the two countries.

The talks were held amid Pakistan’s push for greater international investment.

The country seeks to position itself as a transregional trade hub and it is working to strengthen its supporting infrastructure, including its southern seaports and road and rail network for the efficient movement of goods.