ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday vowed to increase Pakistan–Kazakhstan bilateral trade to $1 billion within the next year, as Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev termed Pakistan a “reliable and important partner in South Asia and beyond”.
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The commitments were made during a joint press conference in Islamabad, held on the occasion of President Tokayev’s two-day official visit to Pakistan — the first by a Kazakh head of state in 23 years.
A signing ceremony followed the talks, during which both countries inked 27 agreements and Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) across key sectors including petroleum, mining, maritime affairs, agriculture, transport, energy, IT and defence cooperation.
Welcoming the Kazakh delegation, Prime Minister Shehbaz said the discussions had been “very useful and productive”, adding that the MoUs must now be swiftly converted into actionable agreements. He assured Pakistan’s full commitment to their speedy implementation, stressing that stronger economic, trade and cultural ties would significantly elevate bilateral relations.
Highlighting the vast natural resources and industrial strengths of both countries, the prime minister noted that current trade volume — around $250 million — did not reflect the true potential of the partnership. He called on business communities from both sides to pursue joint ventures and investments, terming existing investment levels “negligible” despite immense opportunities.
PM Shehbaz also announced agreement on a Belarus-Russia-Kazakhstan-Uzbekistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan transport corridor to enhance regional connectivity, and offered Kazakhstan full access to Pakistan’s transit infrastructure and seaport facilities, including Karachi and Gwadar. He expressed confidence that cooperation in energy, mining and logistics would prove mutually beneficial, reiterating Pakistan’s view of Kazakhstan as a strategic partner in Central Asia.
President Tokayev, in his remarks, said Pakistan and Kazakhstan had signed a historic joint declaration establishing a strategic partnership, opening new avenues for cooperation across bilateral and multilateral domains. He praised Prime Minister Shehbaz for his role in strengthening ties and commended Pakistan’s growing regional and global standing.
Describing the talks as substantive and productive, President Tokayev said both sides agreed on concrete measures to expand trade, targeting $1bn in the near future. He highlighted Pakistan’s importance in transit and logistics, noting that access to Karachi and Gwadar ports could provide Kazakhstan alternative routes to international markets. The two leaders also discussed the Trans-Caspian Transport Corridor, transit routes through Afghanistan, and the possibility of resuming direct air links.
The Kazakh president said agreements in agriculture would help establish joint production facilities, while cooperation would also expand in defence industries, energy — including the TAPI gas pipeline — and digital technologies such as artificial intelligence. He invited Pakistani companies to set up production units in Kazakhstan and pledged favourable conditions for investors.
Both leaders also emphasised collaboration in education and science, noting that over 1,000 Pakistani students are currently studying in Kazakhstan.
Later, addressing the Pakistan-Kazakhstan Business Forum, Prime Minister Shehbaz urged both sides to convert friendly relations into strong commercial partnerships. He announced the formation of a joint working group to prepare a five-year roadmap for trade and investment, led by Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal from Pakistan and Kazakh Deputy Prime Minister Serik Zhumangarin from Kazakhstan.
The prime minister also accepted President Tokayev’s invitation to visit Kazakhstan later this year, where the roadmap is expected to be formalised.
Earlier, President Tokayev was accorded a guard of honour upon arrival in Islamabad. He is accompanied by a high-level delegation of senior ministers and officials. During the visit, Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar and Commerce Minister Jam Kamal Khan also held separate meetings with Kazakh counterparts, focusing on connectivity, infrastructure, agriculture, pharmaceuticals, textiles, mining and energy.
Officials from both sides said the visit provides a timely opportunity to deepen cooperation in trade, logistics, regional connectivity and people-to-people exchanges, positioning Pakistan as a land bridge between Central and South Asia while helping Kazakhstan diversify its trade routes.
