ISLAMABAD - Institute of Regional Studies President Ashraf Azeem has said that Kashgar is developing fast and becoming hub of trade activity.
Speaking at the discussion on his visit to Kashgar to take part in the eighth Kashgar Central and South Asia Commodity Fair., he said that Kashgar is a major city of China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous region which has served as an important link in the ancient Silk trade route that connected China with the outside world.
Kashgar has the advantage of connecting Europe and Asia with five ports and eight neighbouring countries.
He said it is a bridgehead that connects China with the West. The trade fair would strengthen ties between Central and South Asian countries.
 The trade fair started in 2005 and has become an annual feature in promoting regional trade. This year the trade fair has attracted more than 10,000 businessmen, including representatives of trade and commerce associations from South and Central Asian countries. Pakistan was represented at the fair along with Iran, Kyrgyzstan and Turkmenistan and other Central Asian States. It is estimated that this year’s fair has earned about 40 billion Yuan - about $6.33 billion in contracts on investment in Kashgar’s mining, new energy, tourism and agricultural sectors. This amount is 20 percent more compare to last year.
Xinjiang is a Muslim dominated region of China with Kashgar region having a population of 4 million, over 80 percent of them being Uygurs. The region that borders with Pakistani region of Gilgit Baltistan is an important part of the China’s focus on development of Western China.  As part of the 20-year development plan that China launched in 2000, Beijing is rapidly developing the infrastructure of region including construction of Kashgar Economic Development zone which would help industrialise and modernise the area. 
According to Ashraf, the development plan also include construction of railway and road connecting Xinjiang with Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan and India. This would make the region central to regional economic connectivity. Pakistan should take advantage of the economic growth of the region and connect it with economic activity in its own bordering areas contiguous to the region.
Kashgar has a rich history and culture going back to ancient times, said Azeem. It has great cultural affinity with the bordering region of Pakistan. He dispelled the perception that Muslims in the area are being maltreated.  A new mega city is coming up that would change the face of the city and uplift the living standards of the people. Modern houses are being built with all amenities of life. Once the region takes off economically, he maintained, it will greatly benefit the Muslim community of the region. He however, pointed out that language continues to be a great barrier in people to people contacts and efforts should be made to remove this strategic communication gap.