In Islamabad, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif warmly welcomed President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev upon his arrival at the Prime Minister’s House. On arrival, President Tokayev was formally presented with a guard of honor while the national anthems of Pakistan and Kazakhstan were played, marking the ceremonial significance of the visit.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif introduced the visiting president to members of the federal cabinet, while President Tokayev, in turn, introduced the prime minister to the members of his delegation. Senior officials and diplomatic representatives from both countries were also present during the ceremony.
A reception was held in honour of the Kazakh president at the Prime Minister’s House, which was attended by senior government officials and diplomatic delegations from Pakistan and Kazakhstan. Following the reception, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and President Tokayev held an important meeting, during which they held detailed discussions on bilateral relations, the regional situation, and ways to enhance cooperation in various sectors. Both leaders agreed to further strengthen and expand ties between the two countries.
After the meeting, a formal signing ceremony was held to expand cooperation between Pakistan and Kazakhstan through memoranda of understanding and agreements. During the ceremony, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and President Tokayev also signed a joint declaration, which is being described as a significant development in bilateral relations.
During the event, documents related to 19 memoranda of understanding and agreements covering cooperation in multiple fields were exchanged. These included cooperation in United Nations peace missions, partnerships in mining and petroleum, exchange of prisoners, and collaboration in the maritime sector.
Agreements related to transit trade between Pakistan and Kazakhstan, cooperation in the customs sector, and partnership in the railway sector were also exchanged. These agreements aim to strengthen trade links and improve transportation and connectivity between the two countries.
Both sides also agreed to cooperate in the fields of climate change, virtual assets, protection, and veterinary services. A memorandum of understanding related to cooperation in artificial intelligence and digital development was also exchanged. According to officials, these agreements will help promote future technical cooperation and digital partnership between Pakistan and Kazakhstan.
The signing ceremony was attended by Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, and Federal Minister for Planning Ahsan Iqbal.
