ISLAMABAD — President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev called on Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif at the Prime Minister’s House in Islamabad on Tuesday, where the two leaders held extensive bilateral meetings aimed at strengthening Pakistan–Kazakhstan relations.
The visiting president was accorded a formal welcome ceremony, including a guard of honour. This was followed by a one-on-one meeting between the two leaders, which was later expanded to delegation-level talks attended by senior ministers and officials from both sides.
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Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif described President Tokayev’s visit as a historic milestone, noting that it marked the first visit by a Kazakh president to Pakistan in 23 years. The two sides reviewed the full spectrum of bilateral cooperation and expressed satisfaction over the growing momentum in high-level exchanges and institutional mechanisms, including Bilateral Political Consultations and the Joint Intergovernmental Commission.
Trade, connectivity, and people-to-people ties
The prime minister highlighted steady growth in bilateral trade in recent years but stressed the need to unlock its full potential. Both leaders agreed to work toward raising bilateral trade to $1 billion within the next two years, emphasizing the importance of enhanced private sector engagement.
They welcomed the convening of the Pakistan–Kazakhstan Business Forum as a positive step toward boosting trade and investment cooperation.
The two sides also underscored the need to strengthen regional connectivity and transport linkages, including road, rail, air, and maritime cooperation. Transit trade arrangements and regional corridors were identified as key drivers of economic integration and shared prosperity.
Expanding cooperation across sectors
Discussions also covered cooperation in education, culture, tourism, and energy, with both leaders recognizing the role of academic exchanges and people-to-people contacts in building long-term bilateral relations.
Reaffirming their commitment to deepening ties, the leaders expressed confidence that the outcomes of the visit — including the signing of 37 memoranda of understanding and agreements and a Joint Declaration on the Establishment of Strategic Partnership — would open new avenues of cooperation.
President Tokayev thanked the prime minister for the hospitality extended during his visit and invited him to visit Kazakhstan later this year. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif accepted the invitation in principle and reiterated Pakistan’s desire to work closely with Kazakhstan for regional peace, connectivity, and development.
The two leaders also agreed to establish a joint working committee, comprising senior ministers and relevant officials from both sides, to develop a five-year roadmap for expanding bilateral trade and economic cooperation.
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