ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Kazakhstan on Wednesday agreed to strengthen bilateral trade, investment, and regional connectivity, with a goal of raising trade to $1 billion within two years and advancing a multi-country transport corridor linking Central and South Asia.
Speaking at a joint press conference with Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced the agreement on the Belarus-Russia-Kazakhstan-Uzbekistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan transport corridor, aimed at enhancing regional connectivity.
Sharif emphasised that both countries would encourage their business communities to explore joint ventures, noting that despite strong political ties, investment levels have remained low.
He pointed out that the Pakistan-Kazakhstan trade volume last year was only $250 million, a figure he said underestimates the potential of both countries, adding that with concerted efforts, significant progress could be achieved.
Earlier, the two leaders witnessed the signing of 37 memoranda of understanding (MoUs) and agreements covering a wide range of sectors, including finance, trade, energy, health, security, education, media, science, technology, climate change, agriculture, and more.
Prime Minister Sharif expressed hope that the agreements would translate into practical, results-driven outcomes and stressed the need for their timely implementation.
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He reiterated Pakistan’s interest in expanding cooperation with Kazakhstan in energy, mining, transport, culture, and information technology, noting the shared natural resources and human capital between the two countries.
Sharif also congratulated President Tokayev for joining the Board of Peace under US President Donald Trump, adding, “Let us hope and pray to Allah Almighty that through our joint efforts, we will bring lasting peace to Gaza, support its reconstruction, and, most importantly, make the two-state solution a reality as soon as possible.”
President Tokayev, in turn, described Pakistan as a reliable and key partner, both within South Asia and beyond.
He noted that the elevation of bilateral relations to a strategic partnership had opened up new avenues for cooperation across all areas.
“By enhancing our relations to a new level, we open up immense opportunities to engage across the full spectrum of bilateral and multilateral agendas,” he said.
He highlighted that bilateral trade had already gained positive momentum, doubling in the past year and announced that both sides had agreed on concrete measures to further boost trade, with a target of $1 billion in the near future.
He also emphasised transport and logistics cooperation, particularly projects focused on expanding trade flows and regional connectivity.
Tokayev further noted that discussions had covered Pakistan’s growing role in regional transit, including the potential use of Karachi and Gwadar ports as key gateways for Central Asian trade.
Both leaders agreed to explore resuming direct air connections to boost business, tourism, and people-to-people exchanges.
The Kazakh president also invited Pakistani companies to establish production facilities in Kazakhstan, particularly in agricultural processing, pharmaceuticals, and construction materials, assuring them of favourable conditions for investment.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
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