Pakistan–Kazakhstan Business Forum Held in Islamabad

During the Pakistan and Kazakhstan Business Forum held in Islamabad, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev reaffirmed their commitment to transforming bilateral relations into a robust strategic partnership. Prime Minister Sharif opened the forum by welcoming the president and his delegation, noting that the presence of numerous traders from both nations signals a promising future for regional commerce. He emphasized that Pakistan’s strategic geography offers Kazakhstan a vital gateway to global markets, specifically through the export of products via the Gwadar and Karachi ports. To facilitate this, the Prime Minister expressed a clear intent to strengthen both rail and road connectivity between the two countries.

Addressing the economic gap, Prime Minister Sharif pointed out that the current trade volume of $250 million remains far below its true potential. Consequently, both leaders have resolved to increase this figure to $1 billion within the next two years, supported by a newly agreed-upon five-year roadmap designed to expand cooperation across various economic sectors.

President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev expressed his gratitude to the prime minister for organizing the event, describing it as an honor to participate in such a significant dialogue. He highlighted the elevation of their bilateral ties to a strategic partnership as a major milestone, noting that both nations are now poised to take economic relations to unprecedented heights. The President identified tourism, agriculture, information technology, education, and health as the primary pillars for future collaboration.

Furthermore, President Tokayev underscored that Kazakhstan provides a wealth of attractive opportunities for Pakistani investors, particularly within the agricultural sector. He concluded by stressing that business-to-business ties will be actively promoted through the Intergovernmental Commission to ensure that the goal of a $1 billion trade volume is achieved within the established timeframe.