ISLAMABAD; Kazakhstan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Murat Nurtleu, is set to arrive in Pakistan tomorrow for a two-day official visit aimed at strengthening bilateral relations, the Foreign Office announced on Sunday.
Pakistan and Kazakhstan share friendly diplomatic ties, with bilateral trade valued at $239 million, according to Kazakh envoy Yerzhan Kistafin.
Nurtleu’s visit, scheduled from September 8 to 9, will serve as a precursor to Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s planned visit in November 2025. During his stay, the Deputy Prime Minister will hold a one-on-one meeting with his Pakistani counterpart Ishaq Dar, followed by delegation-level discussions.
He is also expected to meet President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. According to the Foreign Office, the talks will review preparations for the upcoming presidential visit and discuss the full spectrum of Pakistan-Kazakhstan cooperation, with a focus on trade and investment, agriculture, education, cultural and tourism exchanges, regional connectivity, logistics, and collaboration at multilateral forums.
Nurtleu will be accompanied by a 13-member high-level delegation, including Transport Minister Nurlan Sauranbayev. Meetings of the Joint Working Groups on agriculture and information technology will also take place on the sidelines of the visit.
The Foreign Office noted that the Deputy Prime Minister’s visit will further strengthen Pakistan-Kazakhstan ties and deepen bilateral cooperation across various sectors for the benefit of both nations.
Kazakhstan is Pakistan’s leading export destination among Central Asian countries, although exports fell sharply by 47.12% in fiscal year 2025. The country is also a major importer of Pakistani mangoes.
In recent developments, Pakistan, Uzbekistan, and Afghanistan signed an agreement in July for a joint study on a major railway project linking Central Asia with Pakistani seaports via Afghanistan. That same month, senior Kazakh military officials attended the Regional Chiefs of Defence Staff Conference in Islamabad.
Earlier, in April, Pakistan and Kazakhstan agreed to a transit trade accord for goods movement through three Pakistani ports, Karachi, Bin Qasim, and Gwadar, while also encouraging other regional landlocked nations to open multiple trade corridors.
Both countries have also committed to promoting tourism through the sharing of certified tour operators and joint promotional activities. Last August, Ambassador Kistafin emphasized the potential for a direct flight between Kazakhstan and Skardu.
