ISLAMABAD, July 20: Pakistan and Kazakhstan are entering a new phase of strategic cooperation, with direct flights, expanded educational exchanges, stronger trade links, and enhanced regional connectivity set to deepen bilateral relations, Kazakhstan’s Ambassador to Pakistan, Yerzhan Kistafin, said on Monday.Speaking at a press conference in Islamabad, Ambassador Kistafin emphasized that security, connectivity, and regional stability remain the cornerstone of the growing partnership between Pakistan and Kazakhstan.
He announced that a direct air link between the two countries is expected to begin either later this year or in early 2027, a development that will significantly promote tourism, business, and people-to-people contacts.Reflecting on his five-year diplomatic tenure in Pakistan, the ambassador described it as a memorable and rewarding experience, praising the warmth and hospitality of the Pakistani people. He highlighted a series of high-level exchanges, particularly the landmark visit of Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev to Pakistan in February 2026, which he said injected fresh momentum into bilateral relations.Ambassador Kistafin noted that the Pakistan-Kazakhstan Business Council has been successfully reactivated and is playing an active role in creating new trade and investment opportunities for the private sectors of both countries.Education, he said, is emerging as another promising area of cooperation. Following the recent visit of Pakistan’s Minister of State for Education, Wajiha Qamar, to Kazakhstan, both sides have agreed to expand academic collaboration, enabling Pakistani students to pursue higher education in Kazakhstan through new educational initiatives.
The envoy also stressed the importance of strengthening energy cooperation and increasing bilateral trade, adding that improved rail and road connectivity is essential to unlock the full economic potential of both countries while enhancing regional integration between Central and South Asia.Highlighting Kazakhstan’s domestic reforms, Ambassador Kistafin said the country has adopted a unicameral parliamentary system as part of President Tokayev’s reform agenda. He added that the Kazakh government is prioritizing investments in education and healthcare, with a substantial share of the national budget allocated to these sectors to promote sustainable human development.
He also expressed optimism about expanding cooperation in the media sector and encouraging stronger business-to-business engagement between the two countries.Looking ahead, Ambassador Kistafin revealed that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is expected to visit Kazakhstan later this year or next year at the invitation of President Tokayev. He expressed confidence that the visit would further strengthen bilateral ties and open new avenues for cooperation across multiple sectors.
