Islamabad, August 7, 2026: Pakistan and Kazakhstan on Friday reaffirmed their commitment to deepening bilateral cooperation in culture, heritage, education and people-to-people exchanges during a farewell meeting between Kazakhstan’s Ambassador Yerzhan Kistafin and Federal Minister for National Heritage and Culture Aurangzeb Khan Khichi.
The ambassador paid a farewell call on the federal minister at his office, where both sides reviewed progress in cultural relations and discussed new initiatives aimed at further strengthening ties between the two countries.
Welcoming Ambassador Kistafin, Minister Aurangzeb Khan Khichi appreciated his contributions to promoting Pakistan-Kazakhstan cultural relations during his tenure and expressed confidence that the momentum of bilateral cooperation would continue under his successor.
Ambassador Kistafin highlighted the deep historical, cultural and brotherly relations between Pakistan and Kazakhstan, as well as the broader Central Asian region. He emphasized the importance of revitalizing these longstanding ties and expressed optimism that direct flights between the two countries would commence next year, facilitating greater tourism, trade and cultural exchanges.
He also highlighted Kazakhstan’s educational cooperation with Pakistan through scholarship opportunities available for Pakistani students.
The federal minister noted that, as agreed between the two sides, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is expected to visit Kazakhstan next year, describing the visit as an important opportunity to further expand bilateral cooperation.
Ambassador Kistafin informed the minister that Astana is home to internationally renowned cultural institutions, including its Opera Theatre, Ballet Theatre and National Theatre, and proposed organizing joint cultural performances by artists and musicians from both countries during the prime minister’s visit to symbolize the strong cultural partnership between Pakistan and Kazakhstan.
He also invited the federal minister and his delegation to visit Kazakhstan to explore additional avenues for cultural collaboration.
Reaffirming Pakistan’s commitment to cultural diplomacy, Aurangzeb Khan Khichi said the National Heritage and Culture Division and its affiliated institutions, including Lok Virsa, would continue working closely with the Embassy of Kazakhstan to strengthen cultural ties under the guidance of the prime minister.
The minister informed the ambassador that recommendations regarding a Pakistani cultural delegation had already been approved. The delegation will include a music teacher, a scholar and two instrumentalists, who are also teachers, and Pakistan now awaits the formal invitation from Kazakhstan to finalize arrangements.
During the meeting, Ambassador Kistafin shared that Kazakhstan had prepared a comprehensive bilateral Action Plan covering a broad range of cultural activities, describing it as one of the most extensive cultural cooperation frameworks his country has developed with any partner nation.
Welcoming the initiative, the federal minister directed the relevant stakeholders to begin work immediately on implementing the proposed activities ahead of the anticipated prime ministerial visit.
Highlighting Pakistan’s flagship annual cultural festival, Lok Mela, the minister invited Kazakhstan to participate in future editions with its artists and cultural groups. Ambassador Kistafin welcomed the invitation, recalling Kazakhstan’s previous participation and expressing his country’s willingness to further expand cultural exchanges through the festival.
The minister also proposed organizing a special exhibition in Kazakhstan showcasing Pakistan’s rich cultural heritage through archaeological artefacts, traditional art, photographs and audio-visual presentations highlighting the country’s history, geography and cultural diversity.
He said the exhibition would present Pakistan as a cradle of ancient civilizations by featuring the heritage of the Gandhara civilization, the Indus Valley Civilization, Islamic civilization and the contributions of diverse religious communities.
Ambassador Kistafin appreciated the proposal, describing it as an excellent initiative that would introduce international audiences to Pakistan’s rich cultural heritage while further strengthening mutual understanding and friendship between the two countries.
The meeting concluded with both sides reaffirming their commitment to implementing the bilateral cultural Action Plan and expanding cooperation for the mutual benefit of Pakistan and Kazakhstan.
