The Ministry of Transport of Uzbekistan has proposed reducing fees for cargo transportation and establishing them on a parity basis along the Uzbekistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan transport corridor. This initiative was discussed during a logistics forum held in Tashkent, which saw participation from companies across Pakistan and Uzbekistan, on June 29.
The forum focused on creating conducive conditions for the transportation of goods through the Uzbekistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan multimodal corridor and addressing existing barriers. Over the past two years, the volume of cargo transported along this corridor has increased by 1.5 times, highlighting its growing importance.
Mamanbiy Omarov, the First Deputy Head of the Ministry of Transport, emphasized the potential for significantly increasing cargo transportation by systematically utilizing this corridor. He proposed several initiatives for the development of the corridor. One key proposal is the introduction of cargo insurance along the route with fees based on international standards. Ensuring the safety of goods during transportation is another priority. Reducing the number of loading and unloading operations is suggested to streamline the process. Establishing clear routes for transporting heavy and oversized cargo and organizing these transports efficiently is also emphasized. Additionally, the widespread introduction of digitization in the cargo transportation process is expected to enhance efficiency. Joint research and efforts to increase the capacity of the Salang Pass, referred to as the "heart" of the transport corridor, are also proposed.
Several years ago, Uzbekistan began working to enhance the role of southern goods export routes. In November 2021, the first Uzbek transit cargo arrived in Pakistan, and the Pakistani side simplified entry procedures for Uzbek drivers. Since March 2022, Pakistan has been supplying meat to Uzbek consumers, and India sent transit cargo to Uzbekistan for the first time through Pakistani and Afghan territories. In May, deliveries of Uzbek goods in the opposite direction commenced.
To support this route, an International Trade Center is under construction in Termez, with its first stage beginning operations at the end of last year. Additionally, the three countries are collaborating on the Trans-Afghan Railway project, which is expected to significantly reduce the time and costs of delivering goods. The highway is scheduled to be operational by 2027.
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