Naveed Ahmad Khan
Islamabad :Kazakhstan’s Ambassador to Pakistan, Yerzhan Kistafin, has reaffirmed his country’s commitment to strengthening economic relations with Pakistan and advancing regional integration through tangible projects.
Speaking at a reception for senior journalists at the Kazakh Embassy, Kistafin said improved transport links across rail, road, and air are critical to unlocking regional trade. He highlighted the North-South and Middle Corridors as key drivers expected to boost commerce in the coming years.
The ambassador described Kazakhstan as one of Central Asia’s fastest-growing economies. He cited a GDP of about $300 billion, per capita income near $15,000, and single-digit inflation. He added that a stable macroeconomic framework and investor-friendly policies have created new opportunities for regional cooperation.
On domestic changes, Kistafin said nearly 300 new laws have been passed in the last three years to strengthen democracy and governance. Constitutional reforms, he noted, have expanded representative institutions and public participation.
He credited President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s agenda of institutional reform, economic diversification, infrastructure upgrades, digital transformation, and human capital development for building long-term resilience.
Reviewing his tenure, which will end in coming months, Kistafin said Pakistan-Kazakhstan relations have grown significantly. For the first time, Kazakhstan’s president, prime minister, and senior officials held high-level engagements with Pakistan.
New platforms including a bilateral Business Council and joint working groups on trade, IT, and education have also been set up to explore investment and knowledge exchange.
Kistafin stressed that stronger connectivity will support not just trade but also energy, transit, and logistics across Central and South Asia. He expressed confidence that better infrastructure and political will can turn Pakistan-Kazakhstan ties into a wider regional economic partnership.
The event ended with the ambassador awarding certificates of appreciation to journalists for their role in promoting Kazakhstan-Pakistan relations.
The writer is Editor, Daily The Spokesman; Managing Editor, Daily Imroze; Founder President, Tourism Association of Pakistan; and Convener, FPCCI Standing Committee on Heritage & Hospitality.
