Islamabad (TDI): Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday directed the relevant authorities to immediately start work on the feasibility of a railway link between Pakistan and Kazakhstan, aimed at enhancing regional connectivity and trade.
He issued these directives during a meeting with Kazakhstan’s Minister for Transport Marat Karabayev at the PM House.
During the meeting, the prime minister conveyed his best wishes to President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and recalled his productive meeting with him during the World Water Summit held in Saudi Arabia.
He expressed keen anticipation for President Tokayev’s upcoming trip to Pakistan, describing it as a significant step towards strengthening bilateral relations.
He said that the proposed railway link would be a “game-changer” for the whole region, as it would connect the Central Asian countries directly to Pakistan’s Gwadar Port, expanding trade routes and economic opportunities.
The Prime Minister said that a Pakistani delegation would soon travel to Kazakhstan to discuss technical issues and finalize the feasibility study.
He also underlined Kazakhstan’s potential role in promoting chess and martial arts in Pakistan, while also highlighting the broader prospects for collaboration in the education sector.
Read More: Pakistan, Kazakhstan Explore Maritime Cooperation
He suggested the establishment of Kazakhstan university campuses in Pakistan and urged the devising of a strategy to boost air connectivity between the two nations.
Reaffirming Pakistan’s commitment to fostering business-to-business ties, the prime minister stressed on the significance of robust economic and trade engagement.
The two sides also exchanged views on collaboration in key sectors such as economy, trade, investment, agriculture, information technology and communications.
Read More: Pakistan, Kazakhstan to Strengthen Economic Ties
Kazakh Minister Marat Karabayev thanked prime minister for the warm hospitality extended during his trip.
He stated that Kazakh business community and investors were keen on enhancing business-to-business relations with Pakistan.
He highlighted the strategic significance of the ports of Karachi and Gwadar for Kazakhstan and reaffirmed the importance of the proposed railway link between Gwadar and Almaty.
