Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday called for raising trade between Pakistan and Kazakhstan to $1 billion within a year as the two countries signed more than 30 memoranda of understanding (MoU) and agreements across multiple sectors.
Addressing a joint press conference after the signing ceremony, Shehbaz said the current level of trade did not reflect the strength of bilateral ties or the economic potential of the two countries.
“Unfortunately, our trade volume is a meagre $250 million, which does not reflect the strength of our friendship and the potential of both countries. Let us commit to raising our trade volume to $1b within the next one year,” he said.
Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev described Pakistan as a “reliable and important partner in South Asia and beyond”.
“Our people are united by centuries-old ties rooted in the legacy of the great Silk Road, as well as by deep cultural and spiritual affinity,” Tokayev said.
“Our nations share common values, traditions and joint aspirations for the future,” he added.
Tokayev said the two sides had “signed a historical document – a joint declaration – on establishing a strategic partnership between Pakistan and Kazakhstan”.
“By elevating our relations to a new level, we open up immense opportunities to engage across the full spectrum of bilateral and multilateral agendas,” he said.
Earlier, President Tokayev was accorded a warm reception and a guard of honour on his arrival at the PM House, where he held a one-on-one meeting with PM Shehbaz followed by delegation-level talks.
The Kazakh president, accompanied by a high-level delegation of senior cabinet ministers and officials, is on his first two-day state visit to Pakistan at the invitation of the prime minister.
The national anthems of Pakistan and Kazakhstan were played as the two leaders stood on the saluting dais. A contingent of the Pakistan Army, Navy and Air Force presented the guard of honour, which Tokayev reviewed. The two leaders later introduced members of their respective delegations.
Following the talks, a signing ceremony was held for MoU and agreements aimed at expanding cooperation. Documents were exchanged covering areas including UN peacekeeping cooperation, mining and petroleum, maritime affairs, prisoner exchange, transit trade, customs cooperation and railways.
The two sides also agreed to cooperate in climate change, virtual assets, protection and veterinary services, as well as artificial intelligence and digital development. Officials said the agreements would support future technical cooperation and digital partnership.
Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, and Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal attended the ceremony.
Tokayev arrived in Pakistan on Tuesday and was received at Nur Khan Airbase by PM Shehbaz and President Asif Ali Zardari. A six-member squadron of Pakistan Air Force fighter jets paid an aerial salute as his aircraft entered Pakistani airspace.
Later, Tokayev planted a commemorative sapling on the lawn of the PM House. Roads along his motorcade route in Islamabad were decorated with Pakistani and Kazakh flags and large portraits of the visiting president.
Later, President Zardari awarded the Kazakh president the Nishan-i-Pakistan at a special ceremony in Islamabad, according to a handout by the President’s Secretariat. PM Shehbaz was also present at the occasion
According to the statement, during a meeting between the president and the visiting dignitary, the former said the two countries shared a firm commitment to broadening cooperation across political, economic and regional domains, while “affirming Pakistan’s readiness to work closely with the country to advance shared goals of peace, connectivity and sustainable development”.
The statement said that the two presidents exchanged views on key bilateral, regional and international issues, which was followed by an extended meeting with their respective delegations.
“Highlighting economic engagement, the president observed that while bilateral trade had registered growth in recent years, it remains well below its true potential,” it said.
He also expressed confidence that the Roadmap for Trade and Economic Cooperation 2025-2027, together with agreements on transit trade, customs cooperation and banking, would help remove operational bottlenecks and open new avenues for trade, investment and business-to-business collaboration, the statement said.
President Zardari also underscored the importance of leveraging Pakistan’s facilities and frameworks in areas such as energy, agriculture, mining, information technology and defence production.
“Exchanging views on regional and international developments, President Zardari reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to peace, dialogue and respect for international law,” it said.
It added that he also stressed the need for collective efforts to promote stability in South Asia and the broader region and emphasised that regional challenges should be addressed through cooperation rather than confrontation.
For his part, President Tokayev said that Kazakhstan attached great importance to its relations with Pakistan and regarded the partnership as a key pillar of regional cooperation. He expressed satisfaction over the positive trajectory of bilateral ties and reaffirmed Kazakhstan’s commitment to working closely with Pakistan to strengthen connectivity, expand economic cooperation and promote peace and stability in the region, the statement said.
“The two leaders expressed confidence that the visit would open a new chapter in Pakistan-Kazakhstan relations and agreed to maintain close coordination to advance shared goals of connectivity, economic cooperation and regional stability,” it added.
Key points
Both countries sign 37 MoUs to deepen cooperation
PM says MoUs should be turned into implementable agreements
PM assures Kazakhstan of full access to transit and seaport facilities
Working committees to be formed to devise five-year trade roadmap
Kazakh president terms Pakistan ‘reliable, important partner’