‘Kyrgyzstan plans to start direct flight operations’

LAHORE: Kyrgyzstan is planning to start direct flight operations for Pakistan to promote trade, investment and tourism links between the two countries, a foreign envoy said.

Ambassador of Kyrgyzstan to Pakistan Erik Beishembiev said direct aerial links between the two countries would improve two-way trade volume which is very low at the moment.

“Kyrgyzstan is interested in development of shortest and cheapest transportation links through its territory between Central Asia, China and Pakistan with access to Gwadar and Karachi ports by using railway and road network, which are being constructed under China Pakistan Economic Corridor,” Beishembiev said, talking to Almas Hyder, president of the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI).

The envoy said land route connects China to Kyrgyzstan through two border mountain passes in Kyrgyzstan - Torugart in the North and - Erkeshtam in the South, located only about 200 kilometers from Chinese city of Kashgar. The road through Kyrgyz border post Irkestam is the shortest way from Fergana valley, which is shared between Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan, to China.

Hyder said both the countries should work together to boost the mutual trade volume that is below the potential of the Pakistan and Kyrgyzstan. “Direct flights should be started as soon as possible to grow trade and economic relations,” he added.

Diplomatic relations between Kyrgyzstan and Pakistan were established on 10 May 1992. Trade turnover is about only $4 million and Pakistan’s investment to Kyrgyzstan is about $3-5 million. The main export from Kyrgyzstan to Pakistan is meat and dairy products, oil and oil products, raw cow and sheep skin, mechanical and electric equipment, aluminium, jet fuel and others. The main import to Kyrgyzstan from Pakistan is pharmaceuticals, textile, furniture, and sport goods.

The ambassador said cooperation in the field of education is developing more actively. About 1,000 Pakistani students are studying in Kyrgyzstan mostly in medical universities. The legal basis of the bilateral relations includes 35 joint documents signed since establishment of diplomatic relations between Kyrgyzstan and Pakistan.

Both countries are rich in mineral resources, have high skilled human resources, excellent opportunities for developing industry and agriculture, attracting foreign investments for joint production and supply of goods, including for export.

Pakistan has a high demand of power energy for its growing economy. At the same time, Kyrgyzstan is rich in water resources which are used for electricity production by a number of hydropower stations. It is also a member of the project Central Asia-South Asia power (CASA 1000) project, which is aimed at bringing surplus electricity from Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan hydropower stations in summer times to Pakistan through the territory of Afghanistan.