ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s state-run National Logistics Corporation (NLC) and Dubai-based global logistics firm DP World have completed their first commercial cargo delivery from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to Tajikistan via Karachi, state media reported on Monday, marking a milestone in Pakistan’s bid to become a regional trade hub.
The cargo, 38 tons of automotive spare parts, was shipped from Jebel Ali port in Dubai to Karachi and then transported overland to the Tajik capital Dushanbe. The journey was completed in just 16 days, which DP World said in a video was the fastest transit time currently available between Dubai and Dushanbe. Competing routes typically take between 20 and 70 days.
“NLC and DP World transported 38 tons of automotive spare parts to Tajik capital Dushanbe,” state broadcaster Radio Pakistan reported. “This achievement was made possible through NLC’s professional expertise and modern logistics infrastructure.”
In a video shared by Radio Pakistan, DP World said the rapid delivery underscored Pakistan’s emerging role in regional trade.
“Pakistan’s growing logistics capabilities is ensuring trade flows across the region,” the company said. “As Central Asia’s demand rises, Pakistan’s role as a connector is more vital than ever.”
The development highlights the deepening partnership between NLC, Pakistan’s premier logistics organization, and DP World, which has stepped up investment in Pakistan’s freight corridors and port facilities.
In January 2024, the two sides signed an agreement under which DP World will upgrade Qasim International Container Terminal, Pakistan’s busiest trade gateway, and help develop the Karachi Freight Corridor to improve cargo movement across the country. Earlier this year, the partnership dispatched Pakistan’s first commercial goods convoy to Central Asia.
The delivery also comes as Pakistan seeks to deepen economic cooperation with the UAE, its third-largest trading partner after China and the United States. The Gulf country has invested over $10 billion in Pakistan in the last two decades, according to the UAE foreign ministry, and hosts nearly 1.8 million Pakistani expatriates.
Earlier this month, Pakistan’s commerce ministry announced plans to establish a “Pakistan Mart” near Dubai’s Jebel Ali port to showcase Pakistani products to international buyers. DP World will build the facility at no cost to Pakistani stakeholders, Islamabad said.
In January 2024, Pakistan and the UAE also signed agreements worth more than $3 billion covering cooperation in railways, special economic zones, and infrastructure.
Pakistan is positioning itself as a key transit hub between the Gulf and landlocked Central Asian states, where demand for goods is growing. The UAE has long been a major entry point for cargo into the region, and the new corridor through Karachi offers both countries a faster, more reliable trade route.
By investing in freight and port infrastructure, Islamabad hopes to capture a larger share of regional trade flows, a goal that has gained urgency as Pakistan struggles to revive its economy and expand exports.
“Pakistan’s growing logistics capabilities is ensuring trade flows across the region,” DP World said. “As Central Asia’s demand rises, Pakistan’s role as a connector is more vital than ever.”
