Islamabad (Web Desk): President Dr Arif Alvi has said there is a great potential of diversifying trade relations and entering into joint ventures in the areas of agriculture, IT, textile, energy, logistics, housing and construction between Pakistan and Kazakhstan.
Talking to Chairman of the Mazhilis (Lower House) of the Kazakh Parliament Koshanov Yerlan Zhakanovich in Islamabad on Tuesday, he said the existing trade level of 219.12 million dollars needed to be substantially increased keeping in view the immense potential that existed between the two countries by building new and improving existing linkages through roads and railway networks.
He said trade by Kazakhstan and other Central Asian Republics (CARs) through Karachi and Gwadar is an important element of the Vision Central Asia Policy.
The president said the international community should take a strong exception to the atrocities being perpetually committed by the Indian Security Forces against innocent Kashmiris who are demanding their legitimate right to self-determination as promised to them by various UNSC resolutions.
Chairman of Mazhilis of Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan briefed the president on the aims and objectives of the Kazakhstan Parliamentary delegation’s visit to Pakistan and said that during the stay, the delegation would meet with the Chairman Senate, Speaker of the National
Assembly and other parliamentarians to discuss ways and means to further improve linkages between the two parliaments and substantially increase people-to-people contacts.
He further said that the delegation would identify avenues and areas to further improve bilateral trade and investment relations, identify common ground to forge meaningful partnerships in cultural and tourism sectors, would explore the possibility of joint ventures in various sectors of mutual interest and discuss matters and issues related to bilateral, regional and international importance.
The president expressed the hope that the visit of the Chairman would further enhance and deepen the understanding between the two brotherly countries.
Speaker National Assembly, Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, Ambassador of Kazakhstan to Pakistan, Mr Yerzhan Kistafin, and senior officials were also present during the meeting.