LAHORE: Pakistan and Kazakhstan have upgraded their relationship to a strategic partnership and set a target of achieving $1 billion in bilateral trade in the coming years, according to Kazakhstanâs Ambassador to Pakistan, Yerzhan Kistafin.
Speaking during a visit to the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), the ambassador said the recent trip of Kazakhstanâs president to Pakistan after more than 20 years was a significant milestone. It led to a joint declaration on strategic partnership and the signing of over 70 agreements and MoUs spanning trade, education, sports, and cultural cooperation.
He added that to convert this progress into tangible results, both countries have established a high-level joint working group to prepare a five-year roadmap, supported by six sector-specific groups focusing on trade, transport, energy, agriculture, IT, and education.
Efforts are also underway to facilitate business travel through e-visa systems, improved banking channels, and plans to resume direct flights between Lahore and Almaty. Additionally, initiatives are in progress to establish sister-city links between Lahore and Turkestan, Karachi and Almaty, and Faisalabad and Shymkent.
LCCI President Faheem Ur Rehman Saigol emphasized that despite strong diplomatic relations, trade volumes remain below potential. He called for increased business-to-business collaboration, joint ventures, and better regional connectivity to fully realize economic opportunities between the two countries.
