Key Points
- Inked pacts span trade, energy, technology and connectivity
- First Kazakh presidential visit to Pakistan in 23 years underscores growing bilateral ties
- New strategic partnership declaration adopted, and transit trade pacts agreed
- Cooperation extended to health, AI, education, culture, transport and peacekeeping
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Kazakhstan took a major step to strengthen their bilateral relationship on Wednesday, signing 36 agreements and Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) across a wide range of sectors at a ceremony held at the Prime Minister’s House in Islamabad.
The event took place during the first official visit by a Kazakh president to Pakistan in 23 years, underlining a renewed push for deeper cooperation between the two nations.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev jointly presided over the signing ceremony, which followed delegation-level talks focusing on expanding economic, trade and strategic ties.
A formal guard of honour was presented to President Tokayev upon his arrival, and both leaders introduced their respective delegations before bilateral discussions commenced.
Addressing the joint press conference, Prime Minister Sharif set an ambitious target to increase bilateral trade with Kazakhstan from $250 million to $1 billion in the near future.
According to the Prime Minister, the existing trade levels did not reflect the true picture and potential of the partnership.
He assured the visiting delegation that Pakistan was committed to speeding up the implementation of the new agreements and welcomed Kazakhstan’s enhanced engagement across economic and cultural domains.
The agreements and MoUs span across sectors, including petroleum, mining and petrochemicals, maritime affairs, transit trade, customs cooperation, railways, artificial intelligence and digital development.
Pakistan🇵🇰 Kazakhstan🇰🇿 signed 19 MoUs and agreements under the kind patronage of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, strengthening bilateral ties. Including the MoU between APP and Kazakhstan’s Republican State TV, these agreements will amplify… pic.twitter.com/NGwaL5usus
— Attaullah Tarar (@TararAttaullah) February 4, 2026
Additional pacts were signed on health, climate change, cultural and humanitarian collaboration, and partnerships between national news agencies.
A transit trade agreement and a Treaty of Extradition were also concluded between the two governments during the ceremony.
A Joint Declaration on the Establishment of a Strategic Partnership was adopted, paving the way for expanded cooperation on regional connectivity, logistics and infrastructure.
Pakistan pledged to offer Kazakhstan full access to its transit infrastructure and seaport facilities, including Karachi and Gwadar, aiming to strengthen trade linkages through maritime gateways.
Both leaders agreed on the importance of integrating transport corridors running across the countries, such as Belarus, Russia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, and Pakistan, to enhance regional commerce.
President Tokayev lauded Pakistan’s economic potential and its growing role in regional stability, praising Islamabad’s efforts to deepen bilateral ties.
He highlighted the cultural and historical bonds between the two nations and reaffirmed Kazakhstan’s support for expanding mutually beneficial cooperation across sectors.
Officials from both sides reaffirmed that the newly signed MoUs and agreements are expected to facilitate joint ventures, attract investment, and open avenues for cooperation in advanced technology, education, research, and people‑to‑people exchanges.
Ministers and senior officials from both governments witnessed the exchange of documents, with commitments to monitor progress and ensure effective implementation.
The visit by President Tokayev, which is scheduled to continue through Thursday, includes additional meetings with Pakistani leadership and discussions on enhancing regional connectivity, security cooperation and integration within broader economic frameworks.
