Islamabad (TDI): Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Thursday that Pakistan is ready to offer landlocked Kyrgyzstan access to regional and international markets through its ports.
He made the remarks during a joint press talk in Islamabad after holding wide-ranging discussions with Kyrgyz President Sadyr Zhaparov, who is on his first official visit to Pakistan.
Zhaparov arrived a day earlier, marking the first visit by a Kyrgyz president to Islamabad in two decades, a gap PM Shehbaz described as “far too long” for two friendly nations. Welcoming the visiting leader, he said Kyrgyzstan could make use of Pakistan’s ports in Karachi, Port Qasim, and Gwadar to expand its trade footprint.
The premier said both sides reviewed their bilateral relations in detail and exchanged views on regional developments. He added that Pakistan and Kyrgyzstan had renewed their resolve to take cooperation to “a much higher level,” with plans to expand collaboration in areas such as trade, connectivity, energy, agriculture, education, defense, and culture.
Read More: Dar, Kyrgyz President Discuss Boosting Bilateral Cooperation
A business forum between the two countries is scheduled for later today, and the prime minister said he expects the forum to open doors to new partnerships. He noted that the business community aims to move the current trade volume, which has fallen to around $5m this year, up to $200m within the next two years.
PM Shehbaz referred to Islamabad as the Kyrgyz president’s “second home,” stressing the deep historical and cultural links between the two nations. He said both sides also agreed on boosting people-to-people exchanges through cultural events, academic ties, and tourism initiatives.
The prime minister expressed hope that Zhaparov’s trip would inject fresh momentum into relations between the two countries and thanked the Kyrgyz delegation for its commitment to strengthening cooperation.
Earlier in the day, Zhaparov was welcomed at the Prime Minister House with a formal ceremony that included a guard of honour and the playing of both national anthems.
Read More: Kyrgyz President Sadyr Zhaparov Arrives in Islamabad on Maiden Visit
Later in Islamabad, Pakistan and Kyrgyzstan signed 15 memorandums of understanding covering trade, energy, health, and other sectors. The signing ceremony was attended by PM Shehbaz, President Zhaparov, and ministers from both sides.
After the signing, the two leaders endorsed a joint statement reaffirming their desire to strengthen “comprehensive cooperation” for the benefit of both countries. The prime minister said the MoUs create a structured framework to drive practical engagement and enhance institutional cooperation between Islamabad and Bishkek.
