Azerbaijan, a Caspian Sea country, has recently shown interest in making investments in Pakistan in its two major motorway projects including the M6 (Sukkur-Hyderabad) and M9 (Karachi-Hyderabad). This investment plan of Azerbaijan in key motorways of Pakistan is confirmed by a Pakistan delegate who recently joined the meeting in Azerbaijan.
Connecting Karachi, Pakistan’s largest city, with Hyderabad, a central metropolitan center, the M9 motorway extends 136 kilometers long and acts as a lifeblood for trade and daily commuting. Meanwhile, the M6 motorway links Sukkur and Hyderabad over a distance of 306 kilometers, forming a crucial part of Pakistan’s north-south connectivity network.
These projects are seen as essential for enhancing transportation infrastructure, enabling efficient movement of people and goods, and driving economic growth. Moreover, this investment of Azerbaijan in Pakistan motorway projects strongly intends to improve regional connectivity and boost infrastructure developments proving to be beneficial for both nations by paving paths for smoother trade routes and providing grounds for escalating economic cooperation.
Read more: 40 charging stations for electric vehicles will be established on motorways
Pakistan’s Ambassador to Azerbaijan, Qasim Mohiuddin, said that Azerbaijani institutions are keen to invest in these motorway initiatives. A meeting chaired by Abdul Aleem Khan, Pakistan’s Minister for Investment, Privatization, and Communications, focused on enhancing collaboration between the countries. Minister Khan emphasized the importance of increasing investments from Central Asian nations like Azerbaijan, highlighting the potential benefits for Pakistan’s infrastructure and trade link.
The conversations also delved into the integration of a government-to-government (G2G) investment model for these projects. This approach is likely to permit direct collaboration, ensuring efficient planning and execution. The G2G model is bound to simplify the process and serve as an impetus to amplify the progress on the motorways.
Aleem Khan remarked on the broader significance of these projects, stating that Azerbaijan’s participation could help in strengthening trade and connectivity between Pakistan and Central Asia. He highlighted that improved infrastructure would position Pakistan as a bridge between South Asia and Eastern Europe, enhancing its role in regional and global trade networks.
A follow-up meeting with Azerbaijani representatives is scheduled for December to finalize the cooperation framework. This meeting seeks to lay the ground for further investments like this, not only in infrastructure but also in other sectors of the country to enhance the economy. The National Highway Authority (NHA), responsible for the development of the M6 and M9 motorways, is actively engaging with Azerbaijani partners to advance these critical projects.