Kazakh PM Meets with Pakistani PM Shehbaz Sharif in Islamabad

Kazakh PM Meets with Pakistani PM Shehbaz Sharif in Islamabad

Islamabad, The Gulf Observer: Kazakhstan’s Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov has arrived in Islamabad to participate in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Head of Government Council meeting, according to media reports.

Upon his arrival, Prime Minister Bektenov held discussions with his Pakistani counterpart, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, focusing on enhancing bilateral trade and economic cooperation, as well as collaboration in the field of digitalization.

During the meeting, Bektenov emphasized that Kazakhstan’s President, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, places great importance on strengthening Kazakhstan-Pakistan economic relations. Both sides noted a significant increase in trade between the two nations, with bilateral trade rising by 16% in the first eight months of 2024, reaching approximately $40 million.

To further unlock the economic potential, Kazakhstan expressed readiness to diversify its exports to Pakistan. Bektenov highlighted plans to deliver up to 85 commodity items worth over $490 million, including products from the petrochemical, metallurgical, chemical, pharmaceutical, food, and machine-building sectors.

Agricultural cooperation was also a key agenda item. In the first eight months of 2024, Kazakhstan’s agricultural exports to Pakistan nearly doubled, reaching $7.7 million. Kazakh-grown vegetables and grain crops are in high demand in the Pakistani market, and Kazakhstan is prepared to increase its grain exports to Pakistan to as much as 2 million tons.

The two leaders also discussed the development of key regional transport routes, including the Kazakhstan-Uzbekistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan multi-modal route and the Kazakhstan-Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan transport corridor, which are seen as critical for boosting connectivity and trade in the region.

Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to expanding cooperation across a wide range of trade, economic, cultural, and humanitarian areas.

Prime Minister Sharif’s visit to Kazakhstan in July 2024 for the SCO Summit was also referenced during the meeting, underscoring the deepening ties between the two countries.