Islamabad: President Asif Ali Zardari explored the Kashgar Free Trade Zone (KFTZ), a crucial trade and logistics center in southern Xinjiang.
President Zardari was welcomed by Kashgar’s CPC Party Secretary, Mr. Yao Ning, who provided insights into the zone’s expansion since its 2015 inception. Covering 3.56 square kilometers, the KFTZ integrates bonded warehousing, logistics, processing, customs clearance, and air freight. It boasts trade connections with 118 nations, exporting goods ranging from electric vehicles and batteries to high-tech products and auto components.
The President learned about the zone’s connectivity to Asia and Europe via road, rail, and air, including its own international airport. The KFTZ is linked to Sost port in Gilgit-Baltistan (400 kilometers away) and Gwadar port (2,000 kilometers away), facilitating both imports and exports.
President Zardari also visited stalls representing various nations, including Central Asian countries, European nations, South Korea, and Japan.
Officials detailed the 2024-established digital trade center, now housing over 5,400 firms, and the cross-border e-commerce exhibition center showcasing duty-free items.
The President was also briefed on the “Two Countries, Twin Parks” project, including an Uzbek industrial park enabling swift warehouse-to-warehouse delivery, and a Kyrgyz-backed park being developed for automotive assembly and LED manufacturing.
Senator Saleem Mandviwalla, Sindh Minister Syed Nasir Hussain Shah, and the Pakistani and Chinese Ambassadors accompanied President Zardari.