Pakistan has offered Turkiye 1,000 acres of land in the Karachi Industrial Park to build a special Export Processing Zone (EPZ). The main goal of this plan is to increase trade between the two countries, encourage Turkish investment in Pakistan, and lower the high cost of shipping goods.
According to officials, if Turkish industries are shifted to Karachi, the cost of shipping can be reduced in a big way. At present, shipping one ton of goods costs around $4,000. With industries located in Karachi, this cost could drop to nearly $1,000 per ton.
Such a change would not only save money but also make Pakistan a more attractive option for regional trade. Karachi’s location near key international trade routes adds even more value to the proposal.
This offer also reflects the strong relationship between Pakistan and Turkiye. Earlier, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan discussed ways to strengthen economic cooperation. The current proposal builds on those talks and is being viewed as a practical step toward achieving shared trade goals.
Turkiye already has great experience in managing Export Processing Zones and has used them successfully to support its economy. If the same model is applied in Karachi, it could create new opportunities for both countries.
For Pakistan, it would mean new jobs, technology transfer and a stronger industrial base. For Turkiye, it would mean lower costs and easier access to South Asian and Middle Eastern markets.
Experts believe that this initiative could become a turning point in the trade partnership between Pakistan and Turkiye.
