Islamabad: Pakistan and Kazakhstan have reached an agreement on the finalization of the Transit Trade Agreement and the practical implementation of the Roadmap for Trade and Economic Cooperation. This understanding was achieved during the 13th Session of the Pak-Kazakhstan Joint Intergovernmental Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific, Technical, and Cultural Cooperation, which concluded in Islamabad.
According to Radio Pakistan, the session was co-chaired by Pakistan’s Minister for Economic Affairs, Ahad Cheema, and Kazakhstan’s Minister of Transport, Marat Karabayev. The two nations agreed to promote the use of regional trade corridors, specifically focusing on the Kazakhstan-Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan and Kazakhstan-Uzbekistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan routes under the International Motor Transport Agreement. They also committed to enhancing cooperation between logistics companies and developing joint ventures to facilitate the cross-border movement of goods through key ports in Karachi, Qasim, and Gwadar.
The agreement also covers sharing investment opportunities in the agricultural sector. Both countries decided to promote tourism by exchanging lists of certified tour operators and launching joint promotional activities. In the financial sector, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed for the Regulation and Development of the Financial Market.
In the education sector, the two sides agreed to establish a Joint Working Group to strengthen academic collaboration and facilitate exchange programs for students and faculty. In the field of information technology, MoUs were signed to promote joint efforts in digital innovation and governance. Moreover, in the energy sector, Pakistan extended an offer to Kazakhstan for investment and joint ventures in oil and gas exploration.
During the session, Ahad Cheema emphasized that the signing of these key agreements will play a critical role in facilitating smoother trade flows and fostering broader economic collaboration. He expressed confidence that these efforts will significantly contribute to increasing bilateral trade and diversifying investments between the two countries.