Islamabad, 12 December 2022 (TDI): Yerlan Koshanov, the Chairman of the Mazhilis of Parliament of Kazakhstan called on his Pakistani counterpart, Speaker of National Assembly Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, at the Parliament House in Islamabad.
During the meeting, Speaker National Assembly stated that through its “Vision Central Asia” Policy, Pakistan aims to build long-term and result-oriented interaction with Central Asian republics.
Pakistan is working hard to expand its collaboration with all Central Asian countries, particularly Kazakhstan, on all matters of mutual interest.
Chairman Yerlan Koshanov, Mazhilis of Parliament, was accompanied by the Parliamentary delegation. Zahid Akram Durrani, Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly, and Federal Minister Shazia Atta Marri were also present during the meeting.
Raja Pervaiz Ashraf emphasized the value of landlocked Central Asian countries having quick access to the sea through our ports in Karachi and Gwadar.
He also highlighted the significance of Pakistan as a crucial route for effectively and economically connecting Central Asia with the rest of the world.
Additionally, he expressed his sincere gratitude to Chairman Yerlan, who came to Pakistan at his invitation. He underscored that, particularly in the parliamentary setting, this visit would be crucial in accelerating the pace of cooperation.
He went on to enunciate that a more efficient application of current projects and legal support to deal with issues necessary to further enhance fraternal bilateral ties would both be facilitated by active participation from both sides of parliaments.
These issues include particularly those relating to trade, tourism, and the promotion of people-to-people contacts. While Chairman Yerlan Koshanov on his part thanked the Speaker.
He expressed his sorrow over the damage that the recent floods had caused to the nation. He accentuated the shared religious, historical, & cultural ties between the two nations.
These ties have grown stronger over the course of 30 years of diplomatic and parliamentary interactions. He also emphasized that his nation was aware of the trade route offered by Pakistan.
In this vein, he expressed optimism that his trip, along with the President of his nation’s upcoming visit, would significantly increase trade and investment between the two sides.
Additionally, he invited the Speaker of the National Assembly to pay an official visit to Kazakhstan, as this would strengthen ties between the two nations.
Shazia Atta Marri, Pakistan’s Federal Minister for Poverty Alleviation and Social Safety and Chairperson of the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP), stressed the importance of enhancing cooperation in the areas of tourism and trade.
She also shed light on the significance of relaxing visa regulations, encouraging youth exchanges, and advancing women’s involvement in decision-making processes.
It is pertinent to note Yerlan completely agreed with the matters discussed during the meeting and assured to play his part in resolving all impending issues for promoting peace and prosperity in both countries.
