ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Kazakhstan on Monday reaffirmed their shared commitment to advancing cooperation in education and human resource development as a key pillar of their bilateral relationship.

The collaboration aims to contribute to regional knowledge sharing, mutual understanding and long-term partnership.

As part of the collaboration, Kazakhstan educational centres were inaugurated at three public sector universities in the capital city. Moreover, eight memoranda of understanding (MoUs) were signed between the higher education institutions of the two countries to promote joint research collaboration, faculty and student exchanges, collaborative academic programmes and capacity-building initiatives. The Kazakhstan educational centres/corners were inaugurated at National University of Science and Technology (Nust), International Islamic University Islamabad (IIUI) and Quaid-i-Azam University (QAU).

The Al-Farabi Centre at QAU and Akhmet Yassawi Centre at IIUI were opened by federal education minster Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui in the presence of Secretary and the acting Chairman HEC Nadeem Mahbub. The Satbayev Centre at Nust was inaugurated by Federal Minister for Science and Technology Khalid Hussain Magsi along with Kazakh Minister of Science and Higher Education Sayasat Nurbek and others.

“The centres will serve as dedicated platforms for information sharing, academic orientation and facilitation of educational cooperation between Pakistani and Kazakh institutions,” says a press release issued by the ministry of education.

It said the Ministry of Education hosted a high-level 25-member delegation from Kazakhstan, led by Minister Sayasat Nurbek and comprising senior officials from the Ministry of Science and Higher Education.

According to the education ministry, the visit formed part of ongoing efforts to further strengthen cooperation between Pakistan and Kazakhstan in the field of education.

“Under the chairmanship of Dr Siddiqui, a bilateral meeting was convened with participation from officials of ministry of education, Higher Education Commission (HEC), Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA), representatives of Pakistani Higher Education Institutions (HEIs), and other stakeholders. The meeting reviewed the existing framework of cooperation and explored new avenues for collaboration in higher education, science and technology, medical education, research, innovation, and academic exchange. Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to deepening institution-to-institution linkages and strengthening people-to-people connectivity through education.”

As a key outcome of the visit, eight MoUs were signed between Pakistani and Kazakh higher education institutions. The MoUs, involving Pakistani HEIs including QAU, Nust, IIUI, Ghulam Ishaq Khan Institute of Engineering Sciences and Technology (GIKI), National University of Modern Languages (Numl), King Edward Medical University (KEMU) and the University of Health Sciences (UHS) aim to promote joint research collaboration, faculty and student exchanges, collaborative academic programmes and capacity-building initiatives, read the press release.

Meanwhile, a press release issued by the Ministry of Science and Technology said that at the inauguration of Satbayev Kazakh Cultural Centre Inaugurated at Nust, Minister Khalid Hussain Magsi said it was the laying of a strong and sustainable bridge between Pakistan and Kazakhstan. He said the establishment of the centre in Islamabad represents a significant milestone in educational diplomacy and will add a new dimension to the relations between the two countries.

Mr Maqsi stated that the centre would serve as a modern, student-centric platform where history and the future converge, providing students and researchers with world-class academic and research opportunities. He stressed the importance of keeping pace with the rapidly changing global environment, noting that the future lies in artificial intelligence and emerging technologies.

The minister said collaboration between the two universities would not only promote academic cooperation but also contribute to research, innovation and human resource development. He added that Central Asia holds a special place in Pakistan’s heart and that Pakistan had much to learn from Kazakhstan’s experiences.

Speaking on the occasion, Kazakhstan’s Minister for Science and Higher Education Sayasat Nurbek said Pakistan and Kazakhstan share common culture and history, recalling that the two regions were closely connected nearly one and a half centuries ago. He emphasised the need for strong trade and investment infrastructure to further strengthen bilateral relations.

Mr Nurbek expressed hope that enhanced educational and scientific cooperation would further solidify ties between the two countries and provide the younger generation with new opportunities for mutual learning and development.

Published in Dawn, February 3rd, 2026