PM Shehbaz Sets $200 Million Trade Target with Kyrgyzstan Over Next Two Years

BISHKEK: Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif has expressed Pakistan’s determination to increase bilateral trade with Kyrgyzstan to $200 million annually within the next two years, calling for greater economic engagement between the two countries.

Addressing a joint press conference alongside Kyrgyz President Sadyr Nurgozhoevich Japarov at the Kyrgyz presidential palace in Bishkek, Prime Minister Shehbaz said the current trade volume of around $16 million did not reflect the strength of relations between the two countries.

“Our present-day bilateral trade hovers around $16 million, which is not a patch on our friendship, our brotherhood and our very strong relations,” he said.

According to the prime minister, Pakistan and Kyrgyzstan agreed to expand cooperation in education, science and technology, culture and trade, with particular emphasis on increasing commercial ties.

Both sides aim to raise annual bilateral trade to $200 million and encourage stronger engagement between their private sectors.

Prime Minister Shehbaz welcomed the transit trade agreement between Pakistan and Kyrgyzstan, describing it as an important development for expanding commercial connectivity.

He said closer cooperation between the private sectors of the two countries could help unlock new opportunities for businesses and investors.

The prime minister also highlighted the decision to establish a sister-city relationship between Lahore and Osh, saying the initiative would contribute to stronger cultural and people-to-people ties.

Pakistan and Kyrgyzstan also agreed to cooperate in addressing terrorism and extremism while working together on climate change and other shared challenges.

Prime Minister Shehbaz thanked President Japarov for his hospitality and congratulated the leadership and people of Kyrgyzstan on the country’s Independence Day.

He also congratulated Kyrgyzstan on its election as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council and praised Bishkek for successfully hosting the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit.

Earlier, Prime Minister Shehbaz arrived at the Kyrgyz presidential palace, where he was accorded a formal guard of honour before his meeting with President Japarov.

Before the joint press conference, senior officials from Pakistan and Kyrgyzstan signed a series of bilateral agreements and memorandums of understanding aimed at expanding cooperation across trade, security, education, technology, health and environmental protection.

The two leaders witnessed the exchange of the pre-signed documents and also signed a joint statement outlining the key outcomes and objectives of Prime Minister Shehbaz’s three-day visit.

The two countries signed a Diplomatic Programme of Cooperation between their foreign ministries for 2026–2027.

An MoU was also signed between the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad and the National Institute for Strategic Initiatives of the Kyrgyz Republic to promote research cooperation.

Pakistan and Kyrgyzstan finalised arrangements on transit trade aimed at facilitating commercial movement between the two countries and signed agreements to promote cooperation in science and technology.

The two sides also signed a treaty on extradition and formulated a draft agreement on mutual legal assistance in criminal matters.

An MoU between the interior ministries of Pakistan and Kyrgyzstan was signed to strengthen cooperation against the illicit trafficking of narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances, precursor chemicals and related crimes.

The Kyrgyz Ministry of Health and the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council signed an MoU to strengthen cooperation in medical education.

Another agreement between the education ministries of the two countries aims to expand cooperation in the field of education.

Pakistan’s Ministry of Climate Change and Environmental Coordination and the Kyrgyz Ministry of Natural Resources, Ecology and Technical Supervision also signed an MoU to enhance cooperation on environmental protection and climate change.

The National Defence University of Pakistan and Kyrgyzstan’s National Institute for Strategic Initiatives signed an MoU covering academic research and cooperative activities.

Cooperation was also expanded into emerging areas of technology and finance.

The National Agency for Virtual Assets and Blockchain Technologies under the Kyrgyz president and Pakistan’s Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority signed an MoU to promote cooperation in virtual assets.

Pakistan and Kyrgyzstan also formalised a sister-city relationship between Lahore and Osh.

Kyrgyz Post and Pakistan Post signed an agreement to develop mutually beneficial cooperation in postal services and e-commerce.

Meanwhile, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Kyrgyz Republic and the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry signed an agreement aimed at strengthening business-to-business cooperation and expanding bilateral commercial ties.

The wide-ranging agreements reflect Islamabad and Bishkek’s efforts to transform their longstanding political and friendly relations into stronger economic, trade, institutional and people-to-people partnerships.