Islamabad, February 3, 2026: Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev arrived in Pakistan on Tuesday for a two-day official visit aimed at further strengthening bilateral ties between the two countries. Kazakhstan is Pakistan’s top export destination among Central Asian nations, highlighting the importance of their economic partnership.
President Tokayev was warmly welcomed at Rawalpindi’s Nur Khan Base by President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, and Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar. A 21-gun salute was presented to the visiting dignitary, reflecting the high level of ceremonial protocol.
Accompanied by a high-level delegation of senior cabinet ministers and officials, President Tokayev’s arrival was marked by streets in Islamabad adorned with Kazakhstan’s national flags, according to a video shared by his office.
In a handout issued by the President’s Secretariat, it was announced that President Zardari will confer the Nishan-i-Pakistan, the country’s highest civilian award, on the presidents of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, with the Uzbek president expected to visit later this month.
During his visit, President Tokayev is scheduled to meet with President Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, and address the Pakistan-Kazakhstan Business Forum. The Foreign Office described the visit as an “important and timely opportunity to undertake a comprehensive review” of bilateral relations, with discussions expected to focus on trade, logistics, regional connectivity, people-to-people contacts, and collaboration at regional and international forums.
The visit is seen as mutually beneficial: Pakistan aims to position itself as a land bridge between Central and South Asia, while Kazakhstan seeks to diversify its international trade amid ongoing challenges in Eurasia following the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
The visit follows ongoing educational cooperation, with eight memoranda of understanding (MoUs) signed on Monday between higher education institutions of both countries. These agreements promote joint research collaboration, faculty and student exchanges, collaborative academic programs, and capacity-building initiatives. As part of this cooperation, Kazakhstan educational centers were inaugurated at three public sector universities in Islamabad.
Earlier, Kazakh Minister of Science and Higher Education Sayasat Nurbek also visited Pakistan, building momentum for the current engagement. In September, the two sides signed an Action Plan of Cooperation during the visit of then-Kazakh Deputy Premier Murat Nurtleu, aimed at boosting overall bilateral ties.
