Pakistan and Turkmenistan Explore Launching Direct Flights to Boost Trade
Pakistan and Turkmenistan are considering the resumption of commercial and cargo air services on the Islamabad–Ashgabat route. This was reported by the Pakistani analytical outlet ProPakistani, citing experts and representatives from relevant government agencies.
Establishing a direct air link aims to create a reliable alternative channel for diversifying trade flows, business travel, and service provision between the two nations. Given that traditional overland routes through Afghanistan frequently face logistical delays, a multimodal approach is becoming crucial for strengthening Pakistan's ties with the regional markets of Central Asia.
Sabz Ali Khan, Director of Pakistan’s Directorate General of Trade Organizations, noted that the launch of direct flights would open up broad prospects for exporters to identify high-demand products and move beyond a limited product range. In his view, fostering closer ties between business communities, holding joint exhibitions, and developing transport infrastructure will enable the effective realization of the existing potential for bilateral trade—the volume of which stood at approximately US$7.05 million in the 2025–2026 fiscal year.
Meanwhile, logistics experts and representatives of Pakistan’s International Road Transport Chamber emphasize that direct air links will provide an optimal solution for transporting urgent and high-value cargo, while road and rail networks will continue to handle bulk shipments. The implementation of integrated multimodal systems will combine air, land, and sea transport into a unified logistics network, connecting Central Asia with the ports of the Arabian Sea.
