April 29, 2025 (MLN): Pakistan and Kazakhstan signed a series of key agreements during the 13th Session of the Joint Intergovernmental Commission (IGC) held in Islamabad.
These included the Roadmap for Trade and Economic Cooperation and the Memorandum of Understanding on Electronic Trade.
The session was co-chaired by Mr. Ahad Cheema, Federal Minister for Economic Affairs, and Mr. Marat Karabayev, Minister of Transport of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
Both sides reviewed the progress made since the last meeting and agreed on a number of new initiatives to further strengthen bilateral cooperation. Protocols and MoUs were signed by both co-chairs.
H.E. Ahad Cheema underscored the substantial progress in bilateral relations and emphasized the critical role of initiatives such as the multimodal trade corridor and the formation of the Joint International Consortium of Logistics Companies.
He expressed confidence that these efforts would significantly increase bilateral trade and diversify investments, as per the press release issued today.
Minister Cheema reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to expanding cooperation with Kazakhstan in sectors including transport, investment, culture, tourism, and youth engagement.
He highlighted the importance of people-to-people ties and growing cooperation in sports and tourism.
He also expressed gratitude to Kazakhstan for its valuable partnership and reiterated the desire to build on the momentum established during the session.
In light of these commitments, both sides agreed to accelerate the finalization of the Transit Trade Agreement and begin practical implementation of the Roadmap for Trade and Economic Cooperation.
The signing of the MoU on Electronic Trade was welcomed as a milestone.
Connectivity and transport emerged as key focus areas. Both sides reaffirmed support for regional trade corridors, including the Kazakhstan-Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan and Kazakhstan-Uzbekistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan routes.
They agreed to promote their use under the International Motor Transport Agreement.
The successful launch of a multimodal trade corridor from Jebel Ali (UAE) to Almaty via Pakistan was acknowledged as a significant achievement.
Cooperation between logistics companies and the development of joint ventures to facilitate cross-border trade through ports in Karachi, Qasim, and Gwadar was also agreed upon.
In agriculture, both countries decided to hold the first meeting of the Joint Working Group and explore investment opportunities. Cooperation in plant protection and quarantine standards will be enhanced.
Progress was also made toward signing an MoU between the State Bank of Pakistan and the Kazakhstan Agency for Regulation and Development of the Financial Market, with Pakistan offering capacity-building support through training programs for central and commercial banking professionals.
Tourism and cultural exchange featured prominently in the session. Both countries agreed to share lists of certified tour operators and launch joint promotional activities.
Kazakhstan expressed interest in opening branches of the Chess Academy and the “Qazaq Batyry” Mixed Martial Arts Academy in Islamabad.
The naming of streets in Islamabad and Astana after Abai Qunanbaiuly and Muhammad Ali Jinnah was also agreed upon.
In education, a Joint Working Group will be established to strengthen academic collaboration and facilitate student and faculty exchange programs.
Discussions included the possibility of establishing a Science and Technology Centre named after K. Satbayev at NUST, Islamabad. Several agreements were advanced to enhance cooperation in higher education, technical training, and research.
The IT sector saw the signing of MoUs between NADRA and Kazakhstan’s National Information Technologies agency, and between Astana Hub and Ignite, laying the foundation for digital innovation and governance cooperation.
In energy, Pakistan invited Kazakhstan to explore investment and joint venture opportunities in oil and gas exploration.
It was agreed to hold the next meeting of the Joint Working Group on Energy later this year.
Both sides expressed satisfaction over the outcomes of the session and reiterated their commitment to deepening bilateral ties.
The 14th Session of the Commission will be held in Astana in 2026, with dates to be finalized through diplomatic channels.
Copyright Mettis Link News
Posted on: 2025-04-29T22:41:56+05:00
