Pakistan and Kazakhstan sign 37 agreements, MoUs

PM Shehbaz, President Tokayev vow to enhance trade volume to $1b in a year: Accords included focusing strategic partnership, defence cooperation: Both sides also agree on Belarus-Russia-Kazakh-Uzbek-Afghan-Pakistan transport corridor: Kazakh leader describes Pakistan as reliable partner

Published: 10:32 AM, 4 Feb, 2026
Featured News, Pakistan
Pakistan and Kazakhstan sign 37 agreements, MoUs
Caption: TV grab

Pakistan and Kazakhstan signed a string of agreements in Islamabad on Wednesday including setting into motion a strategic partnership, couple with bolstering defence cooperation and enhancing bilateral trade volume to $1 billion in a year, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

The two leaders witnessed the exchange of 37 memorandums of understanding (MoUs) and agreements across a wide range of sectors. These included finance, trade, industry, transport, energy, health, culture, security, education, media, science, technology, climate change, agriculture, petroleum, mining & geo sciences, maritime affairs, customs; railways; artificial intelligence and digital development, news exchange and broadcasting;  information exchange and professional development, economy; humanitarian collaboration; crime prevention and sports.and other areas of mutual interest.

Both leaders also signed a joint declaration for the establishment of strategic partnership between the two countries. The document was signed by Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif after talks in Islamabad.

The two sides also signed a treaty on extradition and a transit trade agreement.

Addressing a joint press conference with Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif vowed to take bilateral trade volume to $1 billion in a year.

A signing ceremony was held in Islamabad where the two countries signed 37 agreements and Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) in several sectors, including petroleum, mining, and maritime affairs.

Talking to newsmen, PM Shehbaz welcomed the delegation from Kazakhstan, noting that it was the “first time in 23 years that a Kazakh president was visiting the country”. He stated that the two of them had “very useful and productive meetings since the morning, and just now we signed 27 MoUs”. 

PM Shehbaz expressed hope that President Tokayev “will make sure that the MoUs are converted into agreements and then [move] to their implementation phase as early as possible”. He also vowed to ensure “speedy” implementation of the MoUs on his part.

“If we are to make these MoUs a reality, our economic, trade, and cultural relations will go notches higher,” Shehbaz  said and lauded President Tokayev for being a “very serious-minded politician, an accomplished diplomat”.

PM Shehbaz congratulated the Kazakh leader on receiving Nishan-i-Pakistan, stressing that the honour reflected Pakistan’s “deep appreciation of your visionary leadership and your outstanding contribution towards strengthening the close and friendly ties between our two brotherly countries”.

The premier then shifted his attention to the US President Donald Trump’s Board of Peace, and congratulated President Tokayev for joining the board. “Let us pray and hope to God that we will be successful in bringing long-lasting peace in Gaza, its reconstruction, and of course, make the two-state solution a reality as soon as possible,” he added.

He further noted: “Kazakhstan is blessed with infinite natural resources and you are one of the leading countries in the field of mining minerals along with petroleum products, oil and gas.”

“Pakistan is also blessed with infinite natural resources, great human minds and a very hardworking population,” PM Shehbaz said.

However, he noted that Pakistan and Kazakhstan’s “trade volume was just a meagre $250 million during the last year”. “This does not just reflect the strength of our friendship but also the potential of our two countries,” he added.

He continued: “Let us make the commitment that we will take up our trade volume to $1 billion in the next year”.

He called on the Pakistani and Kazakh business communities to invest in joint ventures, stressing that the current investment portfolio was “negligible” despite great potential on both sides.

PM Shehbaz detailed that the two sides had agreed to the “Belarus-Russia-Kazakhstan-Uzbekistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan transport corridor to enhance regional connectivity”.

He assured President Tokayev that Pakistan will offer to Kazakhstan “full access to Pakistan’s transit infrastructure and seaport facilities”.

On the matter of energy, the PM Shehbaz expressed faith that the collaboration between the two countries in the sector will be a “win-win situation”. He stressed that Pakistan regarded Kazakhstan as a “strategic and one of the most valued partners in Central Asia”.

Talking about their meeting, PM Shehbaz said that President Tokayev gave a “wonderful roadmap for our future cooperation”. “This could only come from a visionary leader like you, who has great experience, great expertise and knowledge,” he added.

President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev described Pakistan as a reliable and important partner of Kazakhstan in South Asia and beyond. He said the elevation of bilateral relations to a strategic partnership opened new opportunities for cooperation across the full spectrum of bilateral and multilateral engagement. “By elevating our relations to a new level, we open up immense opportunities to engage across a full spectrum of bilateral and multilateral agenda,” President Tokayev said.

He noted that bilateral trade had already shown positive momentum, doubling in the previous year, and said both sides had agreed on concrete measures to further expand trade with an ambitious but achievable target of $1 billion in the near future.

President Tokayev highlighted cooperation in transport and logistics as a priority area, particularly projects aimed at expanding trade flows and improving connectivity. He said discussions also covered Pakistan’s growing role in regional transit and logistics, including the use of the ports of Karachi and Gwadar as potential gateways for Central Asian trade.

The Kazakh president said both sides also agreed to explore the resumption of direct air connections to promote business, tourism, and people-to-people contact.

President Tokayev also invited Pakistani companies to establish production facilities in Kazakhstan, particularly in agricultural processing, pharmaceuticals, and construction materials, and assured favorable conditions for Pakistani investors.

Guard of honour

Earlier, a formal welcome ceremony was held in honour of Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev at the Prime Minister House in Islamabad on Wednesday.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif welcomed the Kazakh president at his office where national anthems of the two countries were played.

Later, a smartly turned out contingent of Armed Forces presented guard of honour to the visiting dignitary.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and the President of Kazakhstan will hold bilateral and delegation-level talks today.

Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) and agreements in several sectors will also be signed between the two countries.

Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev arrived in Pakistan Tuesday on a two-day official visit, aimed at strengthening bilateral ties between the two countries.

President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif received the visiting dignitary at Nur Khan Air Base.

President Tokayev is accompanied by a high-level delegation, including senior ministers and government officials.

Separately, President Asif Ali Zardari will confer Nishan-e-Pakistan, the country’s highest civilian award, on the Presidents of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. The award ceremony will be held at the Presidential Palace in Islamabad.

According to officials, the honour is being conferred to promote bilateral relations, friendship, and cooperation between Pakistan and the two Central Asian states. A dignified ceremony will be followed by an official banquet in honor of the distinguished guests.

Reporter Awais Kiyani

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