Pakistan, May 21 -- Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry on Wednesday invited Kazakh investors to explore joint ventures at Pakistani ports including opportunities in Gwadar's free zones to enhance Kazakhstan's access to regional and international trade markets.

The minister made the remarks during a meeting with an 11-member Kazakh delegation led by Timur Turlov, chief executive officer of Freedom Holding Corp. Both sides discussed cooperation prospects in transshipment operations, off-dock and multipurpose terminals, and dry-dock and floating-dock facilities at Pakistani ports.

Junaid Chaudhry highlighted the strategic importance of Karachi and Gwadar in regional commerce and said Pakistan's maritime in...