PM Shehbaz says Pakistan, Kyrgyzstan will work towards expanding bilateral trade to $200m

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Wednesday that he and Kyrgyz President Sadyr Zhaparov had held talks focused on economic cooperation and agreed that “our economic partnership must now move to a more practical and result-oriented stage”.

“To this end, we will be working on a comprehensive plan of practical measures aimed at gradually increasing bilateral trade to $200 million, improving trade mechanisms, promoting joint investment projects, strengthening industrial cooperation and expanding direct business-to-business contacts,” he said, addressing the media alongside President Zhaparov in Bishkek after the two countries signed multiple memoranda of understanding.

Following the signing of the MoUs, PM Shehbaz addressed a press briefing alongside President Zhaparov, saying that, as he had noted during their earlier meeting, the current bilateral trade between Pakistan and Kyrgyzstan stood at around $16 million, which, he said, was “not a patch on our friendship and our very strong relations.”

He recalled that during his talks with President Zhaparov, he had noted that “our present-day bilateral trade stands at around $16m, which is not a patch on our friendship and our very strong relations”.

“Today, we should have signed not an MoU but an agreement to make sure that in the next two years we increase our bilateral trade from $16m to $200m per annum. And this is not a very difficult task. Let us, I think, convert this MoU straight away into an agreement, if you kindly agree, after this meeting,” he added.

PM Shehbaz said connectivity remained central to the two countries’ shared vision of closer economic integration between South and Central Asia.

“We welcome the signing of the agreement on transit trade, which will help facilitate trade, improve logistics and create new opportunities for regional connectivity,” he said.

He said the two sides had also reaffirmed the importance of effectively implementing the quadrilateral agreement on traffic and transit and agreed to work towards simplifying transport, customs and administrative procedures.

Energy cooperation is another important pillar of our partnership, he said, adding that the two sides had reaffirmed the importance of timely implementation of the CASA-1000 project.

“We welcome the establishment of a joint working group on energy to develop practical cooperation in electricity, hydropower, renewable energy, energy infrastructure and modern technologies,” he said.

“I am pleased that our two sides have expanded cooperation in education, science and technology, health, culture and tourism,” he added.

He warmly welcomed the establishment of sister-city ties between Osh and Lahore, describing them as two ancient cities whose iconic landmarks, from Sulaiman-Too to the Lahore Fort and Badshahi Mosque, reflected their rich history and cultural heritage.

Turning to broader bilateral cooperation, PM Shehbaz said security and defence cooperation had also featured prominently in their discussions. The two sides reaffirmed their resolve to strengthen cooperation in the fight against terrorism, extremism and other contemporary threats.

The two leaders also discussed regional and international issues of mutual concern, in addition to bilateral matters.

The prime minister said the two sides had agreed to deepen cooperation on environmental issues and concurred that effective multilateralism was key to resolving the priority issues of the day and achieving global peace and security.

“We remain committed to working together at the UN and other multilateral fora,” he said.

“Pakistan regards the Kyrgyz Republic as its most important and valued partner in Central Asia, and we mean it,” he said.

He told President Japarov that his visit marked the beginning of many more such interactions between the two countries in the times to come.

He also invited President Japarov to visit Pakistan at a mutually convenient time.

Earlier in his address, he thanked the Kyrgyz president and the government and people of Kyrgyzstan for a “warm welcome and generous hospitality extended to me and my delegation”.

He further congratulated the people of Kyrgyzstan on behalf of the people of Pakistan on their independence day.

PM Shehbaz also extended felicitations to Kyrgyzstan for hosting the sixth World Nomad Games, on its election as a non-permanent of the United Nations Security Council for 2027-28 and on its successful chairmanship of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation in 2025–2026.

“We are also very happy that Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar and his team worked tirelessly for your election as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council,” he said, adding that it was “heartening to witness Kyrgyzstan’s remarkable progress and development under your (President Zhaparov) energetic leadership”.

Kyrgyzstan had made “impressive economic gains and taken meaningful steps to translate this progress into an improved quality of life through expanded public services and targeted support for vulnerable communities”, he added.

More to follow