Pakistan’s strategic location at the crossroads of South Asia, Central Asia, and the Middle East undoubtedly makes it well positioned to facilitate connectivity and trade flow, offering potential as a hub of strategic importance for Pakistan and the region.

Added to it is the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) as a vital part of China’s Belt and Road Initiative, enhancing infrastructure and connectivity that can boost trade with Central Asia.

On the face value all of this promises great value for Pakistan and the region.

And rightly so, Pakistan has been building on this narrative to attract investments into the country. How far the investors have bought this narrative is a question that needs a plausible answer. The low foreign investment in the country is an indication that this narrative has few buyers.

Building a narrative in isolation, devoid of projecting the ground realities, is meaningless. Providing an enabling environment convincing to the investors is the way forward. The ground realities throw some light as to why there are only a few buyers.

Since few years, there has been a surge in visits, investment talks and other economic activities between Pakistan and the Central Asia states to leverage Pakistan’s strategic position as a key trade and transit hub to connect the landlocked Central Asian republics to the global market. There have been multiple talks on trade, energy and defence ties as part of an........

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