RAWALPINDI: Stressing the need for enhancing connectivity between Central Asian states and Pakistan via rail network, Federal Minister for Railways Hanif Abbasi on Wednesday said new rail routes should be established to improve trade relations and facilitate better communication between people.

Speaking to Ambassador of Kazakhstan Yerzhan Kistafen who called on him, the federal minister emphasised that Pakistan was committed to further strengthening its relations with Kazakhstan, and would take every possible step to enhance trade, economic and developmental ties between the two countries.

“Other brotherly Muslim countries such as Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan could also be included, which would promote economic development and connectivity across the entire region,” Mr Abbasi said.

Ambassador Yerzhan Kistafen expressed the desire to enhance mutual cooperation between the two countries in the railway sector while discussing Pakistan-Central Asia rail link.

He also highlighted that, “serious discussions are ongoing about several new and important agreements with the government of Pakistan, aimed at further strengthening the economic relations between our two countries.”

During the meeting, Ambassador Yerzhan Kistafen reaffirmed that further cooperation in the railway sector between the two countries was possible, and it was discussed that in the future, imports from Central Asian states could be facilitated through rail.

He noted that this step would not only improve trade relations but also further stabilise economic relations between the two countries.

Mr Kistafen expressed Kazakhstan’s commitment to further strengthening ties with Pakistan through cooperation.

Hanif Abbasi thanked the ambassador and said: “we are ready to take the relations between the two countries to new heights and are eager to increase cooperation at all levels.”

At the conclusion of the meeting, Ambassador Yerzhan Kistafen invited Minister Hanif Abbasi to visit Kazakhstan to further enhance the relations between the two countries.

Published in Dawn, May 15th, 2025