Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif urged Pakistan and Kyrgyzstan to turn the Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) signed between the two countries into concrete agreements. He set an ambitious target of raising bilateral trade from the current level of about $16 million to $200 million in the next two years.

The prime minister made the comments during a joint press briefing with Kyrgyzstan President Sadyr Zhaparov in Bishkek, where the two sides signed a number of MoUs covering multiple areas of cooperation.

“The existing trade volume does not reflect the ‘friendship, brotherhood and very strong relations’ between the two countries,” Shehbaz said, stressing the need to move the economic cooperation to a more practical and result-oriented phase.

He said Pakistan and Kyrgyzstan would work out a comprehensive plan to improve trade mechanisms, promote joint investment, strengthen industrial cooperation and expand direct business-to-business contacts.

Connectivity also featured prominently in the discussions. Shehbaz welcomed an agreement on transit trade to facilitate trade, improve logistics and open up new opportunities linking South and Central Asia.

The two leaders also reiterated their commitment to the timely completion of the CASA-1000 electricity project. Shehbaz appreciated the efforts of Kyrgyzstan in completing the Kyrgyz part of the project and welcomed the establishment of a joint working group on energy cooperation.

The premier said the group would look at cooperation in electricity, hydropower, renewable energy, energy infrastructure and modern technologies.

Apart from economic cooperation, Pakistan and Kyrgyzstan agreed to strengthen cooperation in education, science, technology, health, culture and tourism while security and defense cooperation also remained an important part of the talks.

Kyrgyzstan was Pakistan’s “most important and valued partner in Central Asia”, Shehbaz said, and invited President Zhaparov to visit Pakistan.

The visit coincided with the hosting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation’s Council of Heads of State meeting in Bishkek that provided an opportunity for Pakistan to deepen its engagement with Central Asian states.

The agreements, officials say, now face the bigger test of implementation as both sides seek to translate diplomatic goodwill into tangible economic gains.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)