Maps
Magazine

POLITICS & POLICY MAKING

Pakistan Offers Kyrgyzstan Access to Global Markets, Signs 15 MoUs to Boost Ties
PM Shehbaz offers Kyrgyzstan access to global markets via Pakistani ports as both nations sign 15 MoUs to deepen cooperation in trade, energy, connectivity, culture and education. President Zhaparov calls Pakistan a key and “brotherly” partner.
MH
by Muhammad Hashir
2025-12-04
Pakistan Offers Kyrgyzstan Access to Global Markets, Signs 15 MoUs to Boost Ties

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced on Thursday that Pakistan is ready to provide landlocked Kyrgyzstan access to regional and global markets through its ports in Karachi, Bin Qasim and Gwadar. He made the remarks during a joint press talk in Islamabad alongside Kyrgyz President Sadyr Zhaparov, who is on a landmark two-day visit to Pakistan — the first by a Kyrgyz head of state in 20 years.

PM Shehbaz highlighted that both sides held productive discussions covering bilateral relations, regional developments and opportunities for enhanced cooperation. He expressed Pakistan’s commitment to elevating ties with Kyrgyzstan across several areas including trade, connectivity, energy, agriculture, defence, education and culture.

The premier also pointed to a Pakistan–Kyrgyzstan Business Forum scheduled for later in the day, describing it as a “$200 million MoU in itself,” with a pledge to raise current trade levels from $15–16 million to $200 million in the next two years. Bilateral trade has dropped from $11.2m in 2022–23 to $5.18m in 2024–25.

Calling Islamabad the Kyrgyz president’s “second home”, PM Shehbaz stressed that a 20-year gap between visits was “not acceptable” and emphasised centuries-old cultural and historical ties between the two nations.

He also announced future cultural, tourism and academic exchange events in both countries, saying the interaction between the leaders felt like the “ancient Karakoram and Ala-Too mountains embracing across the horizon”.

Zhaparov: Pakistan a Brotherly and Reliable Partner

President Zhaparov thanked Pakistan for its warm welcome, calling Pakistan an “important partner” and a “brotherly country”. He praised Pakistan’s developmental momentum and outlined several areas where both countries aim to strengthen cooperation, including trade, investment, transport, logistics, education and science.

Zhaparov highlighted the importance of utilising Pakistan’s ports for regional connectivity and noted the value of the CASA-1000 project, which is expected to operationalise by early 2027 and connect Central and South Asian electricity markets.

He also pointed out that over 12,000 Pakistani students are studying in Kyrgyzstan, underscoring strong academic linkages. The Kyrgyz president reaffirmed joint commitments to combat terrorism, extremism and transnational crime.

Zhaparov invited PM Shehbaz to pay an official visit to Kyrgyzstan and extended invitations to the 2026 SCO Summit and the 2026 World Nomad Games in Bishkek.

15 MoUs Signed Across Key Sectors

In a major boost to bilateral cooperation, Pakistan and Kyrgyzstan signed 15 memoranda of understanding (MoUs) in areas including:

·       Commerce

·       Energy

·       Agriculture

·       Tourism

·       Justice

·       Health

·       Mining & geosciences

·       Cultural cooperation

·       Customs data exchange

·       Youth development

·       Port utilisation

·       Academic linkages (including NUML and the Kyrgyz Foreign Ministry’s Diplomatic Academy)

·       Establishment of sister-city relations between Islamabad and Bishkek

A joint statement on strengthening comprehensive cooperation was also signed by both leaders.

PM Shehbaz stated that these MoUs create a “framework for structured, result-oriented engagement” and deeper institutional partnerships between the two countries.

Diplomatic Engagements

Earlier in the day, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar met President Zhaparov to reaffirm Pakistan’s commitment to stronger bilateral ties. Dar shared greetings from Pakistan’s leadership and briefed the visiting president on planned engagements aimed at expanding cooperation.

Both countries, which share longstanding cultural and historical linkages, have already agreed to advance cooperation in areas such as digital finance, cryptocurrency, and blockchain, and earlier expressed the goal of raising bilateral trade to $100m.

Pakistan and Kyrgyzstan also collaborate multilaterally through forums such as the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), where both states are active members.

President Zhaparov received a ceremonial guard of honour at the Prime Minister House on Thursday morning.
Tagged:

BilateralTies

PakistanKyrgyzstan

PMShehbaz

SadyrZhaparov
Share News: