ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Kazakhstan have reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthening their bilateral ties and enhancing regional connectivity.
This came during a delegation-level talks led by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and his Kazakh counterpart Murat Nurtleu in Islamabad on Tuesday.
The discussions focused on boosting trade and investment, agriculture, IT, education, culture, tourism, security and logistics connectivity.
In his opening remarks, Ishaq Dar stressed that there is a great scope for enhancing this bilateral relationship and taking it to the next level.
The Deputy PM added that Pakistan is a strong proponent of peace, stability, development, and prosperity in the region. He said Pakistan seeks a strong partnership with Kazakhstan and other Central Asian countries.
Delegation-level talks, co-chaired by H.E. Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar @MIshaqDar50 & H.E. Mr. Murat Nurtleu, reviewed the full spectrum of PK-KZ cooperation. Discussions focused on boosting trade & investment, agriculture, IT, education, culture, tourism, security & logistics… pic.twitter.com/zWpJEmOhUT
— Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) September 9, 2025
Speaking on the occasion, the Deputy Prime Minister of Kazakhstan said our reliable friendship is deep and has strong roots.
Nurtleu said Pakistan-Kazakhstan ties are time-tested and there is a great potential to widen this relationship. He said our objective is to give a new impetus to this bilateral relationship.
Later, the Deputy Prime Minister and his Kazakh counterpart signed an action plan for cooperation between the foreign ministries of the two countries.
Ishaq Dar also held a separate meeting with the Deputy Prime Minister of Kazakhstan, Murat Nurtleu.
Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister, Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar @MIshaqDar50 today received by H.E. Murat Nurtleu, DPM/FM of Kazakhstan, and held a tête-à-tête. The two sides reaffirmed their resolve to deepen political & economic ties, enhance regional connectivity, and… pic.twitter.com/nqoICLohEK
— Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) September 9, 2025
The two leaders vowed to enhance regional connectivity and maintain close coordination ahead of the forthcoming Presidential visit in November this year.
Meanwhile, a Kazakh delegation led by Transport Minister Nurlan Sauranbayev held talks with the Ministry of Maritime Affairs on Tuesday to strengthen cooperation in seaports and regional connectivity.
The delegation, received by Federal Secretary Syed Zafar Ali Shah, discussed opportunities for collaboration on Pakistani ports and multimodal transport corridors linking Central Asia with the Arabian Sea through road, rail, and sea routes, said a press release.
Shah highlighted the strategic position of Pakistan’s ports, offering access to South Asia, Central Asia, Gulf countries, and beyond.
He said Kazakhstan could benefit from container handling, logistics, off-dock terminals, free trade zones, and other port facilities under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), noting that Pakistan’s tariffs were regionally competitive.
Officials from Karachi Port Trust (KPT) and Port Qasim Authority (PQA) highlighted spare capacity to handle Central Asian cargo, while stressing that a dedicated multipurpose terminal at Gwadar was crucial for long-term trade growth.
It is pertinent to mention that Pakistan was among the first countries to recognise Kazakhstan’s independence in December 1991, with formal diplomatic ties established in February 1992 during President Nursultan Nazarbayev’s visit to Islamabad.
Murat Nurtleu arrived in Islamabad on Monday for a two-day visit, accompanied by Kazakhstan’s transport and deputy trade ministers, and held meetings with his counterpart.
