Pakistan and Kyrgyzstan signed an agreement on Wednesday to boost their bilateral trade to $200 million in two years.

The agreement was signed in Bishkek before Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and his delegation wound up their three-day visit to Kyrgyzstan.

Addressing the signing ceremony, PM Shehbaz said the two sides had initially signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to expand their bilateral trade to $200m.

But, he continued, “I suggested that an agreement should be signed instead of an MoU as it would be a concrete step to achieve [the target of] $200m trade.”

The prime minister said he requested Kyrgyz President Sadyr Zhaparov to consider this possibility and he agreed. Subsequently, an agreement was signed at the airport, he added.

Earlier in the day, the PM addressed a joint briefing alongside the Kyrgyz president, where he had announced the plan to expand bilateral trade between the two countries.

“To this end, we will be working 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,” he said after the two countries signed multiple memoranda (MoU) of understanding.

He said he had noted during their meeting prior to the briefing that currently, bilateral trade between Pakistan and Kyrgyzstan stood at around $16 million, which, he said, was “not a patch on our friendship and our very strong relations.”

He recalled that during his talks with President Zhaparov, he had noted that “our present-day bilateral trade stands at around $16m, which is not a patch on our friendship and our very strong relations”.

“Today, we should have signed not an MoU but an agreement to make sure that in the next two years we increase our bilateral trade from $16m to $200m per annum. And this is not a very difficult task. Let us convert this MoU straight away into an agreement, if you kindly agree, after this meeting,” he added.

He said the two had held talks focused on economic cooperation and agreed that “our economic partnership must now move to a more practical and result-oriented stage”.

The prime minister further stated, “We welcome greater engagement between Pakistani businesses and financial institutions and their Kyrgyz counterparts to carry forward our shared vision of enhancing our bilateral economic cooperation.”

PM Shehbaz said connectivity remained central to the two countries’ shared vision of closer economic integration between South and Central Asia.

“We welcome the signing of the agreement on transit trade, which will help facilitate trade, improve logistics and create new opportunities for regional connectivity,” he added.

He said the two sides had also reaffirmed the importance of effectively implementing the quadrilateral agreement on traffic and transit and agreed to work towards simplifying transport, customs and administrative procedures.

“Energy cooperation is another very important pillar of our partnership,” he said, adding that the two sides had reaffirmed the importance of timely implementation of the Casa-1000 project and welcomed the establishment of a joint working group on energy to develop practical cooperation in the areas of electricity, hydropower, renewable energy, energy infrastructure and modern technologies.

“I am pleased that our two sides have expanded cooperation in education, science and technology, health, culture and tourism,” he further stated.

“We warmly welcomed the establishment of sister-city ties between Osh and Lahore,” he said, describing them as two ancient cities whose iconic landmarks reflected their rich history and cultural heritage.

PM Shehbaz said security and defence cooperation had also featured prominently in their discussions. The two sides reaffirmed their resolve to strengthen cooperation in the fight against terrorism, extremism and other contemporary threats, he added.

The two leaders also discussed regional and international issues of mutual concern, in addition to bilateral matters, PM Shehbaz said.

The prime minister said the two sides had agreed to deepen cooperation on environmental issues and concurred that effective multilateralism was key to resolving the priority issues of the day and achieving global peace and security.

“We remain committed to working together at the UN and other multilateral fora,” he said. “Pakistan regards the Kyrgyz Republic as its most important and valued partner in Central Asia, and we mean it.”

He told President Zhaparov he hoped that his visit marked the beginning of many more such interactions between the two countries. PM Shehbaz also invited President Zhaparov to visit Pakistan at a mutually convenient time.

Earlier in his address, he thanked the Kyrgyz president and the government and people of Kyrgyzstan for a “warm welcome and generous hospitality extended to me and my delegation”.

He further congratulated the people of Kyrgyzstan on behalf of the people of Pakistan on their independence day.

PM Shehbaz also extended felicitations to Kyrgyzstan for hosting the sixth World Nomad Games, on its election as a non-permanent of the United Nations Security Council for 2027-28 and on its successful chairmanship of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation in 2025–2026.

“We are also very happy that Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar and his team worked tirelessly for your election as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council,” he said, adding that it was “heartening to witness Kyrgyzstan’s remarkable progress and development under your (President Zhaparov) energetic leadership”.

He added that Kyrgyzstan had also made “impressive economic gains and taken meaningful steps to translate this progress into an improved quality of life through expanded public services and targeted support for vulnerable communities”,

“I fully share your commitment to deepening cooperation between our two countries and strengthening the bonds between our two peoples in pursuit of our shared interests and broader goals of peace and cooperation among nations.

“And in this regard, I commend the positive and constructive spirit of our discussions held today, which culminated in the signing of several MoUs aimed at expanding bilateral cooperation and economic exchanges for the mutual benefit of our countries and our peoples,” he said.

The Kyrgyz president also spoke alongside PM Shehbaz at a ceremony, delivering his remarks in Kyrgyz. According to a translation carried by state-run Radio Pakistan, he said that “at a time when international tensions are increasing, strengthening friendship, deepening mutual understanding and developing cooperation are more important than ever”.

He said the joint statement signed after their talks reflected a shared vision for further strengthening Kyrgyz-Pakistani relations and identified key areas of cooperation.

Zhaparov said the economy should be “one of the main pillars” of the bilateral partnership and that the two countries had agreed to take steps to boost bilateral trade, expand the range of traded goods and attract investment.

The Kyrgyz president further stated that the two sides were ready to undertake joint projects in pharmaceuticals, agriculture, energy, light industry, tourism, the digital economy, virtual assets and other fields.

Zhaparov said Pakistan’s seaports offered Kyrgyzstan a natural route to South Asian markets and global trade routes.

He said the two countries had traditionally maintained close cooperation at the United Nations, the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation and the Economic Cooperation Organisation.

He also congratulated Pakistan on assuming the chairmanship of the SCO.

Joint statement

Both leaders also signed a joint statement on the occasion, which was later shared by the Foreign Office (FO) on X.

The statement detailed the talks held between PM Shehbaz and President Zhaparov, saying that they had a “comprehensive exchange of views on the full range of Kyrgyz-Pakistan relations, as well as on topical issues of the regional and international agenda”.

“The talks were held in a traditionally friendly and cordial atmosphere, reflecting the high level of political understanding and mutual trust between” Kyrgyzstan and Pakistan, it said.

The statement added that PM Shehbaz and President Zhaparov “noted with satisfaction the sustained positive dynamics of bilateral relations, based on the principles of mutual respect, sovereign equality, territorial integrity, non-interference in internal affairs, mutual benefit, and reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthening the Kyrgyz-Pakistan partnership”

The two leaders emphasised that PM Shehbaz’s official visit to Kyrgyzstan was “a logical continuation of the active high-level political dialogue” held during President Zhaparov’s visit or Pakistan in December 2025 and President Asif Ali Zardari’s visit to Kyrgyzstan in July this year.

Both sides “reaffirmed their commitment to the consistent implementation of the agreements reached and expressed their firm determination to bring bilateral cooperation to a qualitatively new practical level through further development of trade and economic, investment, transport and logistics, energy and humanitarian cooperation”, the statement said.

It further stated that the two leaders welcomed the signing of the Programme of Cooperation between the foreign ministries of the two countries for 2026-27, noting its importance for further strengthening political dialogue and cooperation between the two ministries.

They also reaffirmed that further deepening of trade, economic and investment cooperation is one of the key priorities of the Kyrgyz-Pakistan partnership.

“In this regard, they instructed the governments of the two countries to ensure the consistent implementation of the agreements reached during high-level visits, enhance the practical effectiveness of the Kyrgyz-Pakistan Intergovernmental Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific and Technical Cooperation, as well as ensure effective interaction among government bodies, interested organizations, financial institutions and business communities” of the two countries.

They also emphasised the need to transition to a new stage of economic partnership aimed at increasing the volume of mutual trade, expanding investment cooperation, developing industrial cooperation, establishing joint ventures and implementing mutually beneficial projects in priority sectors of the economy, the statement said.

“The two sides agreed to expand industrial and investment cooperation in the fields of mining and processing industries, agriculture, food, textile and light industries, pharmaceuticals, the halal industry and digital technologies, with particular emphasis on establishing joint ventures, localising production, exchanging technologies and implementing mutually beneficial investment projects.”

PM Shehbaz and President Zhaparov also emphasised the important role of the Kyrgyz-Pakistan Joint Business Council in developing direct ties between the business communities of the two countries and agreed to facilitate its activities aimed at promoting bilateral trade, investment and industrial projects, the statement said.

Moreover, they welcomed the establishment of the Tamchy Special Financial Investment Territory as a new Kyrgyz platform for attracting international investment, modern financial technologies, innovation and global business. “They expressed interest in developing cooperation between the Tamchy Special Financial Investment Territory and financial institutions, investment funds, banks and business communities of Pakistan, including the development of joint investment projects, financial instruments and digital solutions,” the statement read.

It further stated that the two sides supported the establishment of direct contacts between interested organisations and business communities of the two countries with a view to making practical use of the opportunities offered by the Tamchy Special Financial Investment Territory.

“The leaders emphasised that the expansion of direct economic interactions between the Kyrgyz Republic and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, including trade, investment, industrial cooperation, financial cooperation and transport and logistics links, will make a practical contribution to strengthening economic connectivity between South Asia and Central Asia,” the statement read.

It added that they further welcomed the signing of the memorandum of cooperation in the field of virtual assets, emphasising that this document marked a “qualitatively new stage in deepening bilateral economic partnership”.

They noted the strategic significance of these documents, which “lay a solid foundation for the integration of financial markets, the creation of a secure and transparent digital asset ecosystem, as well as for stimulating cross-border investment and technological innovation between the two states in the era of global digitalisation”.

The leaders highlighted the importance of further developing transport and transit cooperation between Kyrgyzstan and Pakistan and reaffirmed their interest in developing reliable and economically efficient transport and logistics routes, increasing the volume of mutual freight transportation and creating favorable conditions for the sustainable transit of goods between the two countries, the statement said.

Welcoming the signing of an agreement on transit trade, they emphasised that this strategic document “opens up qualitatively new opportunities for expanding regional integration, substantially increasing the volume of mutual trade and optimising logistics routes, thereby turning both countries into important transport hubs across South Asia and Central Asia”.

Moreover, the two sides reaffirmed their interest in further utilising the potential of Pakistan’s seaports to expand the foreign trade and transit opportunities of Kyrgyzstan, develop multimodal transportation and diversify transport and logistics routes between the two countries.

“The leaders instructed the competent authorities to continue practical work to create favourable conditions for carriers, contributing to an increase in the volume of mutual freight transportation,” the statement read.

They reaffirmed the “significant potential” for further development of cooperation in the fields of culture, education, science and innovation and expressed interest in expanding academic and cultural exchanges, strengthening partnerships between higher education institutions, cultural institutions and research centres, as well as implementing joint cultural and humanitarian, educational and scientific projects.

The two sides emphasised the importance of further improving cooperation in the field of medical education and interaction between the competent authorities and professional regulatory bodies of the two countries with a view to ensuring the high quality of medical training.

Moreover, the two leaders highlighted the potential for cooperation in the field of tourism and agreed to facilitate an increase in mutual tourist flows, develop direct contacts between tourist operators and promote the tourism potential of the two countries, the statement said.

They instructed the Kyrgyz-Pakistan Joint Working Group on Tourism to identify specific areas of cooperation, including the joint promotion of tourism products, exchange of experience and development of interaction between representatives of the tourism industries of the two countries.

Moreover, they reaffirmed their interest in further developing cooperation in the field of defence and strengthening contacts between the relevant agencies of the two countries.

The leaders emphasised the importance of further developing cultural and humanitarian, inter-regional and inter-municipal ties as an important “element in strengthening friendship and mutual understanding” between the people of the two countries.

They noted that stability and sustainable economic development in the region were of “great importance” for expanding trade, transport, energy cooperation and connectivity between South Asia and Central Asia.

“Condemning terrorist attacks in the region and beyond, the leaders reaffirmed that peace and stability in the region are critical for progress and prosperity. They agreed to work together at all forums, including the UN, Shanghai Cooperatioon Organisation and Organisation of Islamic Cooperation to combat terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.

“The leaders stressed the significance of stability and security in Afghanistan as an important condition for realising the vision of seamless connectivity between South Asia and Central Asia. In this regard, both leaders reiterated that the Afghan territory should not be used for activities that pose a threat to the security of other countries, in accordance with its international obligations. They agreed that a secure and conducive environment is necessary to realise the enormous potential of cooperation and connectivity between South Asia and Central Asia,” the statement read.

The statement further said the Pakistani side “reaffirmed its support for international initiatives of the Kyrgyz Republic aimed at advancing the global mountain agenda, sustainable development of mountain regions and adaptation to climate change, including the holding of the Second Mountain Summit Bishkek +25 in 2027, and expressed its readiness to actively participate in its work”.

It said the two sides agreed that PM Shehbaz’s visit “opens a new chapter in Kyrgyz-Pakistan cooperation, to be based on the consistent implementation of the agreements reached, further expansion of trade, economic and investment cooperation, strengthening of transport and logistics cooperation, and development of mutually beneficial partnership in all areas of mutual interest”.

The leaders reaffirmed their intention to continue the practical implementation of the agreements reached during PM Shehbaz’s visit, President Zhaparov’s visit to Pakistan in December 2025 and President Zardari’s visit to Kyrgyzstan in July this year.

They “particularly noted that the expansion of investment cooperation, development of industrial cooperation and improvement of transport and logistics cooperation meet the long-term interests of the people of the Kyrgyz Republic and Pakistan and create a solid foundation for the further qualitative development of bilateral relations,” the statement read.

It also mentioned PM Shehbaz’s invitation to the Kyrgyz president to visit Pakistan, stating that the latter accepted the invitation and the dates of the visit would be agreed through diplomatic channels.

MoUs signed

Before their joint briefing, PM Shehbaz and President Zhaparov witnessed the ceremony where the representatives from both sides exchanged the pre-signed documents.

According to Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, who accompanied the premier on the visit, 17 bilateral documents were signed during the trip.

The two sides signed a diplomatic Programme of Cooperation between their foreign ministries for 2026-27 besides an MoU between the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad and the National Institute for Strategic Initiatives of the Kyrgyz Republic to strengthen research collaboration, state-run APP reported.

Both countries also finalised agreements on transit trade to facilitate bilateral commercial movement and promote science and technological cooperation, besides signing a treaty on extradition, the APP report said.

The governments of both countries formulated a draft agreement on mutual legal assistance in criminal matters, and an MoU was signed between the interior ministries of Pakistan and Kyrgyz Republic to combat the illicit trafficking of narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances, precursor chemicals, and related issues.

The Kyrgyz health ministry and Pakistan Medical and Dental Council signed an MoU focused on cooperation in medical education while another MoU was signed between the education ministries of both countries to promote cooperation in the field of education.

The Kyrgyz Ministry of Natural Resources, Ecology and Technical Supervision and Pakistan’s Ministry of Climate Change and Environmental Coordination signed an MoU to strengthen cooperation in the field of environment and climate change.

Moreover, Pakistan, National Defence University and the National Institute for Strategic Initiatives of the Kyrgyz Republic signed an MoU for academic research and cooperative activities.

The National Agency for Virtual Assets and Blockchain Technologies under the Kyrgyz President and the Pakistan Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority signed an MoU for cooperation in virtual assets.

Pakistan and Kyrgyzstan also signed an agreement on the establishment of a sister city relationship between Lahore and Osh city of Kyrgyzstan.

Furthermore, OJSC Kyrgyz Post and Pakistan Post reached a bilateral agreement for mutually beneficial cooperation in postal services and e-commerce while another agreement was signed between the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Kyrgyz Republic and the Federation of Pakistan Chamber of Commerce and Industry on cooperation to boost bilateral business ties.

Pakistan and the Kyrgyz Republic also signed multiple bilateral accords to enhance cooperation in security, education, environment and technology sectors.

PM’s arrival at presidential palace

PM Shehbaz had reached Bishkek on Monday, primarily to attend a Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit that concluded on Tuesday.

He visited the presidential palace, Yntymak Ordo, today for his engagement with the Kyrgyz president and was given red-carpet welcome and a guard of honour upon his arrival, a statement by Pakistan’s government said.

“He was warmly received by President Zhaparov [and] the national anthems of Pakistan and Kyrgyzstan were played as the two leaders stood at the salute dais.

“The smartly-turned out contingents of the Kyrgyz armed forces presented the guard of honour,” the statement detailed.

Both leaders introduced their respective delegations to each other before proceeding for their meeting, it added.

PM Shehbaz later visited the Ata Beyit Memorial Complex in Bishkek, where he was received by Kyrgyzstan’s First Deputy Prime Minister Daniar Amangeldiev and Minister of Culture, Information and Youth Mirbek Mambetaliyev.

He also visited Ala Archa National Park in Bishkek, accompanied by President Zhaparov.

As he wound up his visit, the Kyrgyz president personally drove him to the airport and saw him off, an official statement said.