DP World to develop strategic border facilities in Afghanistan

The partnership marks a significant step toward modernising Afghanistan’s trade gateways and strengthening its position as a strategic transit corridor

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DP World has signed a landmark agreement with the Government of Afghanistan to develop and operate the country's most important land border facilities at Torkham and Hairatan.

The partnership marks a significant step toward modernising Afghanistan's principal trade gateways and strengthening its position as a strategic transit corridor linking Central and South Asia.

Torkham and Hairatan serve as essential arteries for Afghanistan’s commerce with its neighbours. Public trade data shows that several billion dollars of goods move across Afghanistan's borders each year, with Pakistan alone accounting for more than $1.6 billion of bilateral trade in 2024. Despite this scale, limited infrastructure and manual procedures continue to constrain flow efficiency. Modernising these crossings is central to unlocking Afghanistan's potential as a key regional transit route and enabling more predictable, secure and high-capacity trade.

Structured as a Public-Private Partnership (PPP), the agreement will see DP World undertake a comprehensive technical and financial feasibility study ahead of finalising the concession. The project is expected to include extensive infrastructure upgrades, advanced cargo-handling systems and the digitalisation of border processes to enhance the efficiency, safety and reliability of cross-border trade.