ALMATY, November 3, 2026: Pakistan and Kazakhstan have agreed to strengthen economic cooperation by expanding bilateral trade, exploring investment opportunities and improving connectivity, with a focus on greater private-sector engagement and implementing existing agreements.
The commitment was reaffirmed during a meeting between Qaiser Ahmad Sheikh and Kazakhstan’s Deputy Prime Minister Sirjan Zhomangarin, according to an official statement issued on Tuesday.
During the discussions, Sheikh called for stronger business-to-business cooperation and improved banking channels to facilitate cross-border trade and investment.
He identified e-commerce, warehousing, textiles and mining as potential areas for bilateral cooperation, highlighting Kazakhstan’s affordable energy as an opportunity to attract Pakistani investment in textile manufacturing.
Sheikh also stressed the importance of implementing the memorandums of understanding signed during President Asif Ali Zardari’s visit to Kazakhstan in February.
He said timely implementation of these agreements was necessary to translate diplomatic commitments into practical economic benefits.
Kazakhstan’s deputy prime minister expressed interest in a visit by Pakistan’s prime minister and reaffirmed his government’s commitment to expanding bilateral economic relations.
He said Kazakhstan had developed a five-year roadmap to strengthen cooperation and increase trade between the two countries.
Highlighting the economic potential of the partnership, Zhomangarin described Pakistan’s market of approximately 250 million people as an opportunity for Kazakh businesses.
He also noted that Kazakhstan could provide Pakistani businesses with access to the wider Eurasian market.
The Kazakh deputy prime minister emphasised the need to establish direct air connectivity between Pakistan and Kazakhstan to facilitate business travel, commercial exchanges and people-to-people contacts.
He further informed the Pakistani delegation that Kazakhstan’s foreign minister would visit Pakistan to attend a preparatory meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO).
Both sides agreed that improved transport links, effective implementation of existing agreements and stronger private-sector participation would be essential to expanding bilateral economic cooperation.
The meeting reflected efforts by Pakistan and Kazakhstan to translate their trade and investment potential into practical commercial partnerships.