Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Ishaq Dar on Saturday emphasised the geographical location of Pakistan, terming it ‘an asset’ which needed to be explored, as the country lies at the crossroads of Central, South and West Asia.

By improving connectivity, the country could get maximum economic benefits, Dar said while chairing a high-level meeting regarding the improvement of port connectivity.

The Maritime Affairs secretary gave a detailed briefing to the committee regarding the current situation of Pakistani ports and their utilisation capacity, the Foreign Office spokesperson said in a statement.

The meeting was attended by the ministers for law & justice and maritime affairs, SAPM Tariq Bajwa, Maritime secretary, NLC DG, Karachi Port Authority chairman and senior officials from relevant departments.

The committee reviewed measures for the development and enhancement of the efficiency and competitiveness of Pakistan’s ports.

Discussions also focused on improving port connectivity, streamlining operational processes, strengthening inter-agency coordination, facilitating trade and logistics, and advancing reforms to position Pakistan’s ports as efficient regional trade gateways.