Pakistan Must Be a Part of Regional Corridors for Shared Prosperity: Kazakhstan Ambassador

The President of the Republic of Kazakhstan , Kassym Jomart Tokayev will visit Pakistan in Nov this year on the invitation of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. His visit will prove to be a milestone in the expansion of economic and trade relations between the two countries, said Ambassador during a press briefing in Islamabad

Islamabad : Kazakhstan’s Ambassador to Pakistan, Yerzhan Kistafin, has underlined the growing momentum in bilateral relations between Kazakhstan and Pakistan, with special emphasis on digital cooperation, connectivity, interfaith dialogue, and trade, as preparations advance for President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s state visit to Pakistan in November.

Addressing a press briefing in Islamabad, Ambassador Kistafin said President Tokayev’s forthcoming visit  , the first by a Kazakh head of state since 2003 , will be a milestone in the history of bilateral relations. “We believe this historic visit will elevate our cooperation to a new height,” he remarked, noting that both sides are working to enhance mutual trade to USD 1 billion at the earliest opportunity.

He recalled that in his State of the Nation address on September 8, President Tokayev, for the first time, directly mentioned Pakistan, underlining its importance in Kazakhstan’s digital and connectivity vision. The address highlighted digital transformation, artificial intelligence integration, and connectivity projects, including the proposed Turghundi–Herat railway linking Kazakhstan with Pakistani seaports such as Gwadar and Karachi. “This will be a game-changer for Central and South Asian connectivity,” the envoy said.

The ambassador also detailed regional initiatives such as the Uzbekistan, Afghanistan , Pakistan railway and the broader North–South and Middle Corridors, stressing that Pakistan’s participation would be a “win-win” for regional integration. “Pakistan must be a part of these corridors,” he emphasized, while noting that India is also included in the North–South corridor and could be engaged through dialogue.

Highlighting recent progress, Kistafin recalled the first meeting of the Kazakhstan–Pakistan Joint Working Group on IT and Digital Communications held in Islamabad this September, which brought Kazakh AI and IT firms together with Pakistani technology organizations. He said this platform will lay the foundation for long-term collaboration in digital education, AI, and technology transfer.

The ambassador said the past year had been “historic,” pointing to the Kazakhstan–Pakistan Business Forum held in Karachi in April with 500 participants, including 150 Kazakh businessmen. Commercial contracts worth USD 200 million were signed in one day, followed by the 30th Intergovernmental Joint Commission session, which produced agreements in trade, culture, sports, and investment. Kazakhstan’s sovereign wealth fund, Samruk-Kazyna, also initiated talks with Pakistan’s Fauji Foundation to explore corporate partnerships.

Earlier this month, Kazakhstan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Murat Nurtleu, led a high-level delegation of trade, transport, agriculture, and AI ministers to Islamabad — a visit Kistafin described as a precursor to President Tokayev’s trip. “Almost half of our government was in Pakistan,” he noted, underscoring the seriousness attached to the relationship.

The envoy also touched on interfaith dialogue, highlighting the participation of Pakistan’s Minister for Religious Affairs in the 8th Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions in Astana, which gathered over 100 delegations from major faiths. He noted that Pakistani scholar Prof. Dr. Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq of the IIUI received the title of “Ambassador of Goodwill” at the event. Messages from global religious leaders underscored the need for dialogue to foster peace amid global conflicts.

Ambassador Kistafin stressed that Kazakhstan sees itself as a vital land bridge between Europe and Asia, with over one billion tonnes of cargo transported across its territory last year. “The North–South corridor opens access to South Asia and the Gulf, while the East–West corridor and China’s Belt and Road Initiative enhance Kazakhstan’s role in Eurasia. All routes should function as a single system to bring tangible investment, jobs, and growth,” he quoted President Tokayev as saying.

He also noted growing educational exchanges, with nearly 1,000 Pakistani students studying in Kazakhstan — mostly in medicine and new agreements signed between Kazakh universities and 20 Pakistani institutions in disciplines like engineering and IT.

Ambassador Kistafin said Kazakhstan and Pakistan are on the cusp of a transformative era. With cooperation expanding in IT, connectivity, trade, education, and interfaith dialogue, the two countries are set to become pivotal partners in linking Central and South Asia.