Pakistan Supports Commonwealth’s $2 Trillion Trade Goal, Eyes Regional Trade Hub

On Monday, Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar affirmed Pakistan’s commitment to the Commonwealth’s ambitious goal of increasing trade between member countries to $2 trillion by 2030. This pledge comes as Pakistan strives to position itself as a key regional trade hub amidst ongoing economic and infrastructure developments.

During a five-day visit to Pakistan, Commonwealth Secretary-General Patricia Scotland met with Dar in Islamabad. The discussions centered around several pivotal topics, including climate change, women’s and youth empowerment, development, and education. A significant portion of their talks also addressed the Commonwealth Connectivity Agenda for Trade and Investment (CCA), which aims to boost intra-Commonwealth trade and investment.

Dar expressed strong support for the CCA’s vision, stating, “Pakistan supports the Commonwealth target of increasing trade between member countries to $2 trillion by 2030. It envisions itself as a regional hub for trade.” He praised Scotland’s vision as both commendable and achievable.

In the realm of regional connectivity, Dar highlighted Pakistan’s ongoing efforts to enhance its trade links with neighboring countries. Pakistan is actively collaborating with Uzbekistan on railway connectivity and is in discussions with Turkmenistan regarding the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) pipeline. This pipeline project aims to transport natural gas from Turkmenistan, which sits on some of the world’s largest natural gas reserves, to energy markets in Asia and Europe.

Despite previous delays in finalizing agreements, Pakistan hopes that the TAPI pipeline will soon materialize, contributing significantly to regional energy security and economic integration. The country’s strategic geographic position makes it a vital player in connecting Central Asian republics to global markets.