Pakistan, Kyrgyzstan Agree to Boost Bilateral Trade to $200 Million

Bishkek (GNP): Pakistan and Kyrgyzstan have agreed to strengthen their economic partnership, with an understanding reached during talks between Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov in Bishkek on 2 September 2026.

Speaking at a joint press stakeout following the talks, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said the two countries will work on a comprehensive plan of practical measures aimed at gradually raising bilateral trade to 200 million dollars, improving trade mechanisms, promoting joint investment projects, strengthening industrial cooperation, and expanding direct business-to-business contacts.

He said Pakistan welcomes greater engagement between Pakistani and Kyrgyz business and financial institutions to carry forward their shared vision of economic cooperation.

Building on this, the Prime Minister said connectivity remains central to closer economic integration between South Asia and Central Asia, welcoming the signing of an agreement on transit trade that he said would facilitate trade, improve logistics, and create new opportunities for regional connectivity.

He described energy cooperation as another important pillar of the partnership, noting that both sides reaffirmed the importance of timely implementation of the CASA-1000 project and welcomed the establishment of a joint working group on energy to advance cooperation in electricity, hydropower, renewable energy, and modern technology.

The Prime Minister also expressed satisfaction over expanding cooperation in education, science and technology, health, culture, and tourism, welcoming the establishment of a sister city relationship between Lahore and Osh. He said security and defence cooperation featured prominently in the discussions, with both sides reaffirming their resolve to strengthen the fight against terrorism, extremism, and other contemporary threats, alongside an agreement to deepen cooperation on environment and climate issues.

He added that both leaders agreed effective multilateralism is key to resolving global challenges and reaffirmed their commitment to working together at the UN and other multilateral platforms, describing Kyrgyzstan as Pakistan’s most important partner in Central Asia.

In his remarks, President Sadyr Japarov said that at a time of rising international tensions, strengthening friendship and deepening cooperation are more important than ever, noting that the joint statement signed after the talks reflects the shared vision for Kyrgyz-Pakistani relations and sets out priorities for the coming period.

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He said the economy should be one of the main pillars of the partnership, with both countries agreeing to take systematic steps to increase bilateral trade, diversify traded goods, and attract investment, while expressing readiness to pursue joint projects in pharmaceuticals, agriculture, energy, light industry, tourism, the digital economy, and virtual assets.

President Japarov further noted that Pakistan’s seaports provide Kyrgyzstan with a natural route to South Asian and global trade markets, adding that the two countries have traditionally maintained close cooperation within the United Nations, the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, and the Economic Cooperation Organisation. Both sides expressed readiness to continue regular political dialogue on international platforms, and Japarov congratulated Pakistan on assuming the chairmanship of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation.

Ahead of the talks, Pakistan and Kyrgyzstan signed several memorandums of understanding and agreements covering transit trade, combating illicit narcotics trafficking, education, academic research, science and technology, environment and climate change, virtual assets, postal services, and e-commerce, along with an agreement establishing sister city relations between Lahore and Osh. The two leaders also exchanged a joint statement following delegation-level talks at Yntymak-Ordo in Bishkek.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said, “Pakistan regards Kyrgyzstan as its most important and valued partner in Central Asia.”