Pakistan, Kazakhstan eye direct flights, trade boost through land links

KARAACHI: Pakistan and Kazakhstan are exploring the launch of direct flights and stronger land connectivity to enhance trade and regional integration, officials said following a high-level meeting in Islamabad on Tuesday.

Kazakhstan’s Minister for Transport Marat Karabayev met with Pakistan’s Federal Minister for Communications Abdul Aleem Khan as part of his official visit to Pakistan. Talks focused on expanding bilateral trade, easing travel restrictions and developing transport links between the two countries.

Khan proposed initiating direct flights from Lahore, Islamabad and Karachi to Kazakhstan and urged improved visa facilitation for Pakistani business travellers and tourists. He noted that Pakistan is working to upgrade road and rail infrastructure to deepen ties with Central Asian states and strengthen trade corridors through Afghanistan.

“Land connectivity is key to trade development,” Khan said, describing enhanced road and rail links as critical to future economic integration with the region.Karabayev expressed Kazakhstan’s interest in boosting land transport links with Pakistan and neighbouring countries over the next five years. He highlighted Kazakhstan’s modern logistics and transport networks, and called the Islamabad visit productive. He also praised discussions with several Pakistani ministers.

Kazakhstan’s Ambassador to Pakistan Yerzhan Kistafin and senior officials from the Kazakh ministries of trade, energy, transport, water resources and railways were present at the meeting. From the Pakistani side, senior officials from the Ministry of Communications, National Logistics Cell (NLC), and Maritime Affairs also participated.Karabayev extended an official invitation to Khan to visit Kazakhstan, which was accepted, with the visit expected to take place soon.