Islamabad: Pakistan and Kazakhstan have reaffirmed their shared commitment to expanding bilateral cooperation in political, economic, defence, and people-to-people domains. This resolve was expressed at a meeting between Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev in Islamabad today.
According to Radio Pakistan, the Prime Minister highlighted the steady growth in bilateral trade in recent years, while underscoring the need to fully realize its untapped potential. Both sides agreed to enhance bilateral trade to one billion dollars in the next two years. It was also agreed that enhanced private sector engagement between the two countries would play a key role in expanding trade and investment ties. In this regard, they welcomed the convening of the Pakistan-Kazakhstan Business Forum as a positive step in this direction.
The two leaders also emphasized the need to work closely for enhanced regional connectivity and transport linkages, including road, rail, air, and maritime cooperation. The two sides underscored the importance of transit trade arrangements and regional corridors in promoting economic integration and shared prosperity.
Among other issues, the two leaders also discussed cooperation in education, culture, tourism, and energy, recognizing the importance of academic exchanges and people-to-people contacts in strengthening long-term bilateral relations. Reaffirming their commitment to further deepening Pakistan-Kazakhstan relations, both leaders expressed confidence that the outcomes of the visit, including the signing of 37 MoUs and Agreements and a Joint Declaration signed by the two leaders on the "Establishment of Strategic Partnership," would open new avenues of cooperation.
President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev thanked Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for the hospitality extended to him and his delegation during his stay in Pakistan. He extended an invitation to the Prime Minister to visit Kazakhstan at a convenient time, but before the end of the current year. The Prime Minister thanked the President for the invitation and reiterated Pakistan's desire to work closely with Kazakhstan for regional peace, connectivity, and development. In this regard, the two leaders agreed to establish a Working Committee, comprising senior Ministers and relevant officials of both sides, that will devise a road map to expand bilateral trade and economic cooperation over the next five years.
Earlier, Shehbaz Sharif warmly received the Kazakhstan President at the Prime Minister House. An official welcome ceremony was held in honour of the visiting dignitary, during which he also inspected the Guard of Honour. The two leaders had a one-on-one meeting, in which Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar as well as Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir were also present. This was followed by delegation-level talks, in which key cabinet ministers from both sides participated.
During the delegation-level talks, the Prime Minister hailed President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev's visit as a historic milestone in Pakistan-Kazakhstan bilateral relations, as it was the first visit by a Kazakh President to Pakistan after 23 years. The two leaders reviewed the entire spectrum of bilateral cooperation and expressed satisfaction over the growing frequency of high-level exchanges and the effectiveness of established institutional mechanisms, including Bilateral Political Consultations and the Joint Intergovernmental Commission.