Political and economic reforms announced in State-of-the-Nation Address discussed in Islamabad

Conference was held dedicated to the program of political, economic and social reforms, as well as the foreign policy activities of Kazakhstan under the leadership of the President of Republic of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. This conference was organized in the context of the State-of-the-Nation Address titled “Economic Course of a Just Kazakhstan” which was delivered on September 1, 2023.

The event was attended by representatives from Pakistan's leading media, experts, and academic circles in the capital, El.kz cites MFA.

Ambassador Dr. Raza Muhammad, President of the Islamabad Policy Research Institute (IPRI), was invited as the guest of honor.

Conference speakers included Dr. Raashid Wali Janjua, Director of IPRI, Tazeen Akhtar, founder and editor at “Pakistan in the World,” Khalid Taimur Akram, Executive Director of the Pakistan Research Center Communities with a Shared Future (PRCCSF), and Irfan Shahzad Takalvi, President of the Eurasian Century Institute (ECI).

In his welcoming speech, Ambassador Y. Kistafin highlighted the key points of the President’s Address, particularly emphasizing several priority sectors of Kazakhstan's economy designated by the President of the Republic as priority, including agriculture, mechanical engineering, the military-industrial complex, and the transport and logistics industry. He noted the potential for cooperation with Pakistan in these sectors, taking into account the host country's existing experience and infrastructure.

Ambassador Y. Kistafin especially emphasized the order of the President to develop the international transport corridor “North-South”, within the framework of which the Islamic Republic can and should play an important role by ensuring access to open ocean routes for Kazakhstan and Central Asia through its seaports in Karachi and Gwadar.

The main speaker of the event, Dr. R.W. Janjua acknowledged Kazakhstan's achievements in implementing political reforms, improving the judicial system, and establishing a balanced system of checks and balances. The speaker emphasized the continued commitment to meritocracy in public administration and the inclusiveness of the political system of Kazakhstan.

• Akhtar praised Kazakhstan’s initiatives and the state’s achievements in “building a unified Kazakh nation”. He particularly highlighted innovations in the judicial system and the efforts of President K.Tokayev in the development of the social sphere, especially in school education.
• Akram stated that Kazakhstan's leadership is dedicated to achieving economic self-sufficiency and self-reliance while promoting economic, social, and cultural cooperation. He focused on the progressive development of the IT sector, digitalization, and the fintech industry in Kazakhstan, predicting the emergence of Kazakhstan as a technological Hub in Central Asia.

Sh. Takalvi considers it important to implement the initiatives of President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev both for Kazakhstan and for the entire Asian region. The speaker emphasized the social orientation of Kazakhstan’s new course, the special focus of the state on creating favorable conditions for future generations. The expert gave a positive assessment of the specific timelines outlined by the President for the implementation of the stated initiatives.

The guest of honor, Ambassador Raza Muhammad, commended Kazakhstan for its constitutional reforms, which serve as an example for countries in the region by creating a balance between state institutions and the civil society. The process of improving the justice system and effective foreign policy were noted in a positive light.

In general, the Pakistani expert community gave a positive assessment of the reforms being carried out in Kazakhstan, and the ambitious vision set out in the President's Address to the People of Kazakhstan. They noted the need to study the Kazakh experience for its possible application in the political agenda of Pakistan.

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