Pakistan and Kyrgyzstan sign accords, set $200 million trade target as PM Shehbaz visits Bishkek

Economic partnership takes center stage

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Kyrgyz President Sadyr Zhaparov held talks on Wednesday focused on economic cooperation, agreeing that "our economic partnership must now move to a more practical and result-oriented stage," as reported by Dawn. The prime minister, addressing the media alongside President Zhaparov in Bishkek, said the two countries would work 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.

Shehbaz Sharif noted that current bilateral trade between Pakistan and Kyrgyzstan stood at around $16 million, which he described as "not a patch on our friendship and our very strong relations," according to Dawn. He also suggested converting the MoU into an agreement to increase trade from $16 million to $200 million per annum, saying "this is not a very difficult task."

Agreements signed

Pakistan and Kyrgyzstan signed multiple bilateral accords on Wednesday to strengthen cooperation intrade, security, education, environment, healthand technology, as reported by The Nation. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and President Zhaparov witnessed the signing ceremony, where representatives from both countries exchanged the pre-signed documents. The two leaders also signed a joint statement outlining the key discussionsand objectives of the prime minister's three-day visit to Bishkek for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Council of Heads of State meeting.

The agreements included a Programme of Cooperation between the foreign ministries for 2026–27, an MoU between the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabadand Kyrgyzstan's National Institute for Strategic Initiatives, and agreements on transit trade, science and technology cooperation and extradition. A draft agreement on mutual legal assistance incriminal matters was formulated, along with an MoU between the interior ministries focusing on cooperation against illicit trafficking of narcotic drugs, psychotropic substancesand precursor chemicals. MoUs covering medical education, education, environment and climate change, academic researchand virtual assetsand blockchain technologies were also signed.

The two countries agreed to establish a sister-city relationship between Lahoreand Osh. Kyrgyz Post and Pakistan Post signed an agreement to enhance cooperation in postal servicesande-commerce, while the Kyrgyz Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry signed an agreement aimed at strengthening bilateral business ties.

Connectivity, energy and security discussions

Shehbaz Sharif said connectivity remained central to the two countries' shared vision of closer economic integration between South and Central Asia, according to Dawn. He welcomed the signing of the agreement on transit trade, which he said would help facilitate trade, improve logistics and create new opportunities for regional connectivity. The two sides reaffirmed the importance of effectively implementing the quadrilateral agreement on traffic and transit and agreed to work towards simplifying transport, customsand administrative procedures.

Energy cooperation was another important pillar of the partnership, with the two sides reaffirming the importance of timely implementation of the CASA-1000 project, as reported by Dawn. Shehbaz Sharif welcomed the establishment of a joint working group on energy to develop practical cooperation inelectricity, hydropower, renewable energy, energy infrastructureand modern technologies. The two sides also expanded cooperation ineducation, science and technology, health, cultureand tourism.

Security and defence cooperation featured prominently inthe discussions, with the two sides reaffirming their resolve to strengthen cooperation inthe fight against terrorism, extremismand other contemporary threats, according to Dawn. They also agreed to deepen cooperation onenvironmental issuesand concurred that effective multilateralism was key to resolving the priority issues of the dayand achieving global peace and security, with a commitment to working together atthe UN and other multilateral fora.

Recognition and outlook

Shehbaz Sharif thanked President Zhaparov and the government and people of Kyrgyzstan fora "warm welcomeand generous hospitality extended to meand my delegation," as reported by Dawn. He congratulated the people of Kyrgyzstan on their independence day, and extended felicitations for hosting the sixth World Nomad Games, on its election as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for2027-28, and on its successful chairmanship of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisationin2025–2026. He credited Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Darand his team for working"tirelessly" for Kyrgyzstan's election to theUN Security Council.

Shehbaz Sharif said it was "heartening to witness Kyrgyzstan's remarkable progressand development" under President Zhaparov's"energetic leadership," adding that Kyrgyzstan had made"impressive economic gainsand taken meaningful steps to translate this progress intoan improved quality of life through expanded public servicesand targeted support for vulnerable communities," according to Dawn.

Before the talks, the prime minister's visit was described by The Nation as seeking to give fresh momentum to political, economicand strategic ties with the Central Asian republic. The high-level engagement was expected to produce a package of agreementsand MoUs providing an institutional framework for expanding cooperation, with the prime minister expected to review the entire spectrum of bilateral relations withemphasis on tradeand investment, connectivity, energy, transport, education, tourism, agricultureand people-to-people contacts.