President Tokayev Visits Pakistan to Strengthen Diplomatic and Economic Ties
Islamabad: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif warmly welcomed President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev at his official residence on Wednesday, marking the start of the Kazakh leader’s two-day official visit to Pakistan.
Upon arrival, President Tokayev received a guard of honor from a disciplined contingent of the armed forces. The leaders are set to hold both bilateral and delegation-level talks, with multiple agreements and Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) expected to be signed across key sectors.
President Tokayev’s visit underscores the commitment of both countries to deepen diplomatic and economic relations. Kazakhstan is Pakistan’s leading export destination among Central Asian states. The Kazakh president is accompanied by senior cabinet members and top officials, with Islamabad streets adorned with Kazakhstan’s national flags.
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar met President Tokayev and highlighted Pakistan’s appreciation for growing high-level political exchanges. He reaffirmed the countries’ shared commitment to expand cooperation across political, economic, and people-to-people domains, while working together for regional peace, stability, and development.
Separately, Federal Minister for Commerce Jam Kamal Khan held discussions with Kazakhstan’s Minister of Trade and Integration Arman Shaqqaliev at the Ministry of Commerce in Islamabad. Talks focused on enhancing trade, connectivity, and investment, with both sides emphasizing the role of rail, road, and multimodal corridors to strengthen Pakistan–Kazakhstan trade.
The discussions also highlighted major infrastructure projects, including rail and road corridors, positioning Kazakhstan as a regional hub linking Central Asia with South Asia, China, Europe, and the Global South. Priority sectors identified included agriculture, food security, pharmaceuticals, textiles, sports goods, leather, mining, energy, and infrastructure development.
Both ministers agreed on the need for structured business-to-business engagement, including trade missions, exhibitions, and delegation exchanges, aiming to transform bilateral economic relations from potential to performance.
President Tokayev is also scheduled to meet former President Asif Ali Zardari, who will confer the Nishan-i-Pakistan, the country’s highest civilian award, on both the Kazakh and Uzbek presidents. He will also address the Pakistan-Kazakhstan Business Forum during the visit.
The visit is seen as a timely opportunity to review bilateral relations comprehensively, enhance trade and logistics cooperation, strengthen regional connectivity, and promote people-to-people exchanges. It also positions Pakistan as a key land bridge between Central and South Asia, while providing Kazakhstan avenues to diversify trade amid geopolitical challenges in Eurasia following the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
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