Pakistan offers landlocked Kyrgyzstan access to seaports
Pakistan offered landlocked Kyrgyzstan access to its ports as Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif hosted Kyrgyz President Zhaparov in Islamabad
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (MNTV) — Pakistan offered landlocked Kyrgyzstan access to its Arabian Sea ports as Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif hosted Kyrgyz President Sadyr Zhaparov in Islamabad on Thursday, marking the first visit by a Kyrgyz head of state in two decades.
Sharif said Pakistan was prepared to provide Bishkek access to regional and global markets through the ports of Karachi, Port Qasim and Gwadar. He made the remarks after talks with Zhaparov, who arrived Wednesday for a two-day visit aimed at expanding political, economic and connectivity cooperation.
Both sides signed 15 agreements covering energy, commerce, justice, education, agriculture, mining, tourism, culture and city-to-city partnerships. Sharif said the accords would establish a “framework for structured, result-oriented engagement,” giving new momentum to a relationship that has long lagged behind its potential.
The prime minister said both governments were committed to raising bilateral trade from its current $15–16 million to $200 million within two years. Trade has declined sharply, from $11.2 million in 2022–23 to $5.18 million in 2024–25.
Zhaparov described Pakistan as a “brotherly and reliable partner,” praising its economic capacity and infrastructure ambitions. He said both leaders had agreed to accelerate cooperation in trade, logistics, investment, education and science, and to further strengthen the Kyrgyz-Pakistan Business Council.
He underscored the importance of the CASA-1000 regional electricity project — which Kyrgyzstan expects to be operational by January 2027 — and noted that more than 12,000 Pakistani students are currently enrolled in Kyrgyz universities.
The two countries also reaffirmed cooperation against terrorism, extremism and transnational crime.
Zhaparov invited Sharif for a state visit to Kyrgyzstan and as a guest of honor at the 2026 Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit and the World Nomad Games, both to be held in Bishkek.
Earlier Thursday, Sharif welcomed Zhaparov with a ceremonial guard of honor at the Prime Minister House. Senior Pakistani officials — including the army chief, intelligence chief and top cabinet ministers — attended the bilateral talks and signing ceremony.
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