ISLAMABAD: Ambassador of Kazakhstan Yerzhan Kistafin on Friday invited Pakistan’s cooperation in his country’s agricultural, industry, mechanical engineering, military-industrial complex, transport and logistics industry.

Ambassador Kistafin was speaking at a conference held at a local hotel. The conference was dedicated to political, economic and social reforms programme as well as foreign policy activities of Kazakhstan under its President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev in the light of his annual address to his nation on “Economic course of a just Kazakhstan” announced on September 1, 2023.

The event was attended by representatives of Pakistan’s media, scientific experts and academic circles.

President of the Islamabad Policy Research Institute (IPRI) Dr Raza Mohammad was the chief guest.

Those who spoke at the conference were IPRI Director Dr Raashid Wali Janjua, founder and editor of a publication “Pakistan in the World” Tazin Akhtar, Executive Director of a research centre “Communities with a Shared Future” Khalid Taimur Akram and President of the Eurasian Century Institute Irfan Shahzad Takalvi.

In his welcome speech, the Kazakh ambassador said the main provisions of the address of the head of state were a number of sectors of the economy.

These included agriculture, industry, mechanical engineering, military-industrial complex, transport and logistics in which cooperation with Pakistan was of interest, taking into account the experience and developments of the host country.

The ambassador especially emphasised the order of the head of state to develop the international transport corridor “North-South” within the framework of which Pakistan could and should play an important role by ensuring access for Kazakhstan and all Central Asia to the open ocean through its seaports in Karachi and Gwadar.

Dr Rashid Wali Janjua noted Kazakhstan’s achievements in implementing political reforms, improving the judicial system and building a balanced system of checks and balances. He emphasised the continuity of the principle of meritocracy in public administration and the inclusiveness of the political system of Kazakhstan.

A representative of the media community T. Akhtar highlighted the success of Kazakhstan’s initiatives and the state’s achievements in “building a unified Kazakh nation.” Innovations in the judicial system were especially emphasised.

The speaker noted the efforts of the head of state aimed at developing the social sphere in particular school education.

KT Akram stated that the leadership of Kazakhstan was committed to achieving economic self-sufficiency and self-sufficiency of the state, paying attention to establishing economic, social and cultural cooperation.

Shahzad Takalvi considered it important to implement the initiatives of President Tokayev both for Kazakhstan and for the entire Asian region. The speaker emphasised the social orientation of Kazakhstan’s new course and the special focus of the state on creating favourable conditions for future generations.

He gave a positive assessment of the specific deadlines outlined by the president for the implementation of the stated initiatives.

The chief guest, Dr Raza Mohammad said Kazakhstan with its constitutional reforms set an example for the countries of the region, creating a balanced between state institutions and the civil society.

The speakers gave a positive assessment of the reforms being carried out in Kazakhstan.

Published in Dawn, September 9th, 2023