Pakistan is exploring alternative export routes through China to maintain access to Central Asian markets, as regional instability and border closures disrupt traditional trade corridors, Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research Rana Tanveer Hussain said Thursday.

At the fourth meeting of a government committee on potato exports, chaired by Hussain, officials reviewed the current export situation and global market conditions. The minister noted that the escalating security crisis in the region, resembling a war in Iran, has made traditional trade routes unsafe, while the closure of the Afghanistan border has restricted overland access to Central Asian markets.

Hussain also highlighted that limited access to some Gulf shipping routes has further affected the smooth flow of exports.

The committee discussed alternative and practical export routes, identifying the China corridor as the most effective option for reaching Central Asian markets. Hussain emphasized that the government is maintaining active engagement to ensure uninterrupted trade through this route.

In addition, the ministry has decided to explore export opportunities in Far Eastern countries, particularly Indonesia, he added. Officials are continuing discussions with trade representatives and importers to expand market access for Pakistani agricultural exports.