A conference titled “The Rise of Kazakhstan: An Agenda for Building Regional Cooperation” was held in Islamabad, dedicated to the discussion of the President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s State of the Nation Address “Just Kazakhstan: Law and Order, Economic Growth, Social Optimism”, which was attended by representatives of political, diplomatic, business, and academic circles, as well as leading media from Pakistan, El.kz cites MFA.
The conference was honoured by the presence of Pakistan’s Minister for Planning, Development, and Special Initiatives, Ahsan Iqbal Chaudhry, Additional Secretary Foreign Minister of Pakistan, Ahmed Naseem Warraich, Vice Chancellor of the Pakistan Institute of Development Economics, Nadeem Ul Haque, President of the Institute of Regional Studies, Jauhar Saleem, and Professor of the University of Peshawar, Shabbir Ahmad Khan.
In the welcome address, the Ambassador of Kazakhstan Yerzhan Kistafin highlighted the key aspects of the President’s State of the Nation Address, emphasizing the political modernization and economic transformation measures being implemented to ensure sustainable development. The Ambassador underscored the alignment of Kazakhstan’s national agenda with its foreign policy, particularly in the framework of bilateral cooperation with Pakistan.
Saleem, in his speech, stressed the importance of mutual support and the need to strengthen regional cooperation. He highlighted the effective collaboration between Kazakhstan and Pakistan in international organizations such as SCO and CICA. Ambassador Saleem also emphasized the potential for expanding bilateral cooperation in sectors such as trade, infrastructure, energy and education.
Waraich emphasized the importance of further developing institutional frameworks in Kazakhstan-Pakistan relations. He expressed satisfaction with the successful implementation of multimodal transport projects through the Port of Karachi and highlighted the importance of expanding air connectivity between Kazakhstan and Pakistan.
Nadeem Ul Haque noted Kazakhstan’s successful steps in diversifying its economy and the importance of applying these practices for the development of Pakistan’s economy.
Professor Khan emphasized Kazakhstan’s role as a leading partner in Central Asia and outlined the strategic importance of Kazakhstan’s reforms for the entire region. In his presentation, he discussed the opportunities for developing transport corridors between Kazakhstan, Pakistan, and the regions of Central and South Asia.
In conclusion, the chief guest, Minister Chaudhry, emphasized the region’s transport potential, which he believes is becoming a key element for successful development and economic cooperation.
Overall, the conference participants highly praised the reforms being carried out under President Tokayev’s leadership, noting their relevance and significance for unlocking the potential of regional cooperation. Additionally, they stressed the importance of studying Kazakhstan’s experience in political and economic transformation for Pakistan’s development.