Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has said that the country is ready to grant Kazakhstan full access to its transit infrastructure and seaports, opening new southern routes for Central Asian trade.

The issue was discussed during talks with President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, where the sides focused on the strategic role of Pakistan’s key ports - Port of Karachi and Gwadar Port, The Caspian Post reports via Kazakh media.

The sides also addressed the development of the Belarus-Russia-Kazakhstan-Uzbekistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan transport corridor, agreeing to work jointly on advancing the route.

Kazakhstan’s presidential press service Akorda said that Tokayev invited Pakistan’s prime minister to pay a state visit to Kazakhstan, signaling growing momentum in bilateral ties.

Karachi remains Pakistan’s largest port, handling around 60 per cent of the country’s total cargo turnover, while Gwadar is the third-largest port and a key node in regional connectivity plans. Kazakh diplomats have previously noted that both ports could serve as major transit hubs not only for Kazakhstan, but also for other Central Asian states seeking reliable access to global markets.