Pakistan keen to boost trade, connectivity with Kazakhstan, says PM Shahbaz

Islamabad (Web Desk): Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday underlined Pakistan’s commitment to deepening relations with Kazakhstan, highlighting the need to boost trade, attract investment, promote people-to-people exchanges, and strengthen connectivity via air, rail, and road links.

He shared these views during his meeting with Kazakhstan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Murat Nurtleu, who arrived in Islamabad on his first two-day official visit, accompanied by a ministerial delegation.

The premier noted that Pakistan and Kazakhstan enjoy longstanding fraternal ties and that both nations are eager to expand cooperation across various sectors of shared interest.

Extending a warm welcome to the visiting dignitary, the prime minister also conveyed greetings to President Kassym Jomart-Tokayev, whom he had recently met in China.

PM Shehbaz emphasized that Islamabad attached great importance to the Kazakh president’s planned visit later this year, adding that Pakistan was ready to send a delegation to Astana to finalize several memorandums of understanding and agreements under negotiation.

He pointed out that both countries had remained engaged in frequent discussions in recent months, paving the way for signing key accords during the presidential visit.

Deputy Prime Minister Murat Nurtleu expressed gratitude to the Pakistani leadership for the warm reception and shared details of his earlier discussions with Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Ishaq Dar.

He remarked that President Tokayev’s forthcoming trip to Islamabad would be a historic milestone and open a promising new phase in bilateral ties.

The meeting was also attended by Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, federal ministers for communications, economic affairs, and railways, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Tariq Fatemi, as well as the foreign secretary.