Islamabad: Kazakhstan has reiterated its commitment to expanding economic cooperation with Pakistan and strengthening regional connectivity, with Ambassador Yerzhan Kistafin saying enhanced transport networks and high-level engagement have laid the foundation for a broader strategic partnership between the two countries.
Speaking at a reception hosted for senior journalists in Islamabad, the ambassador said closer cooperation in trade, investment, transport and logistics would not only deepen bilateral relations but also contribute to greater economic integration across Central and South Asia.
He identified improved rail, road and air connectivity as key to unlocking the region’s economic potential, highlighting the North-South and Middle Corridor transport routes as strategic initiatives expected to facilitate trade, boost investment and improve regional supply chains in the years ahead.
Kistafin said Kazakhstan remained committed to working with Pakistan to translate regional connectivity initiatives into practical economic opportunities, noting that enhanced infrastructure and stronger political coordination could significantly increase commercial exchanges between the two countries.
Highlighting Kazakhstan’s economic progress, the envoy said the country has emerged as one of Central Asia’s leading economies, supported by macroeconomic stability, sustained reforms and an investment-friendly business environment. He said these developments have opened new avenues for regional cooperation in trade, industry and investment.
The ambassador also outlined Kazakhstan’s ongoing political and institutional reforms, saying nearly 300 new laws had been enacted over the past three years to strengthen democratic governance, improve public participation and modernise state institutions. He said the reform agenda pursued under President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev focused on economic diversification, infrastructure development, digital transformation and human capital, aimed at ensuring long-term sustainable growth.
Reflecting on his diplomatic tenure in Pakistan, which is set to conclude in the coming months, Kistafin expressed satisfaction over the significant progress achieved in bilateral relations.
He noted that the past few years had witnessed unprecedented high-level political engagement, with Kazakhstan’s president, prime minister and other senior officials holding substantive interactions with Pakistan’s leadership, giving fresh momentum to bilateral cooperation.
The ambassador said both countries had also institutionalised cooperation through the establishment of a Pakistan-Kazakhstan Business Council and several joint working groups covering trade, information technology and education, creating new mechanisms to promote investment, business partnerships and knowledge exchange.
He stressed that stronger connectivity between Central and South Asia would benefit not only bilateral trade but also regional energy cooperation, transit and logistics, describing Pakistan as an important partner in Kazakhstan’s broader vision for regional economic integration.
The reception concluded with Ambassador Kistafin presenting certificates of appreciation to journalists in recognition of their contribution to promoting greater understanding and cooperation between Pakistan and Kazakhstan.
