Azerbaijan eyes investment in Pakistan’s M6, M9 motorways

ISLAMABAD: Following the recent high-profile visit of Pakistani delegation to Azerbaijan, Federal Minister for Investment, Privatisation, and Communications, Abdul Aleem Khan, chaired an important review meeting to assess progress on investment and privatisation matters.

According to Express Tribune, joining the meeting via video link, Pakistan’s Ambassador to Azerbaijan, Qasim Mohi Uddin, brought some exciting news. He shared that Azerbaijani government is eager to invest in Pakistan through a government-to-government (G2G) model.

Particularly, Azerbaijani institutions have their eyes on two major motorways—the M6 and M9—showing interest in Pakistan’s communications infrastructure. If these deals go through it could mean a significant boost for the country’s development.

Ambassador Mohi Uddin stressed the need to resolve any lingering investment issues with Central Asian countries. The meeting, he noted, was all about checking in on the progress made so far and ensuring that everything is on track for the future.

Minister Aleem Khan, recognising the importance of timely action, advised the ambassador to complete preparations before Joint Commission meeting between Pakistan and Azerbaijan which is scheduled for December 24-25.

He also highlighted the need for a unified approach and announced plans for individual meetings with the ambassadors of Turkey, Azerbaijan, and Uzbekistan to discuss investment and privatisation opportunities across the board.

Khan also took a broader view, pointing out that strengthening Pakistan’s trade ties with Central Asian countries could pave the way for easier access to Eastern European markets.

He linked this strategic focus to Pakistan’s active participation at COP29 in Baku earlier this month, showcasing the growing depth of Pakistan-Azerbaijan relations.

During the meeting, senior officials from the privatisation and communications ministries, along with the chairman of the National Highway Authority (NHA), presented detailed updates on their respective projects, emphasising the ongoing work to turn these ambitions into reality.

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