“Our present-day bilateral trade hovers around $16 million, which is not a patch on our friendship, our brotherhood and our very strong relations,” Shehbaz said at a joint press conference with Kyrgyzstan President Sadyr Japarov at the presidential palace in Bishkek.
The prime minister said Pakistan and Kyrgyzstan had agreed to expand cooperation in education, science and technology, culture and other areas, with particular emphasis on strengthening trade ties.
He said the two countries would encourage greater interaction between their private sectors to help expand commercial relations. He also welcomed the transit trade agreement between Pakistan and Kyrgyzstan.
Shehbaz said the proposed sister-city relationship between Lahore and Osh would further strengthen cultural and people-to-people ties.
The two countries also agreed to cooperate in countering terrorism and extremism and to work together on climate change, according to the prime minister.
Shehbaz thanked President Japarov for his hospitality and congratulated Kyrgyzstan’s leadership and people on Independence Day. He also congratulated the country on its election as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council and praised its hosting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit.
Earlier, Shehbaz arrived at the presidential palace, where he was received by President Japarov and accorded a guard of honour.
Multiple agreements signed
Before the joint press conference, officials from Pakistan and Kyrgyzstan exchanged several agreements and memorandums of understanding covering trade, security, education, environment, technology and other areas.
The two leaders witnessed the signing ceremony and endorsed a joint statement outlining the outcomes and objectives of Shehbaz’s three-day visit.
The countries signed a diplomatic Programme of Cooperation between their foreign ministries for 2026-27, as well as an MoU between the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad and Kyrgyzstan’s National Institute for Strategic Initiatives to promote research collaboration.
Agreements were also finalised on transit trade, science and technology and extradition. The two sides formulated a draft agreement on mutual legal assistance in criminal matters.
Pakistan’s Interior Ministry and Kyrgyzstan’s Interior Ministry signed an MoU to cooperate against the illicit trafficking of narcotics, psychotropic substances and precursor chemicals.
The Kyrgyz health ministry and the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council signed an MoU on medical education, while the two countries’ education ministries agreed to strengthen cooperation in education.
An MoU was also signed between the Kyrgyz Ministry of Natural Resources, Ecology and Technical Supervision and Pakistan’s Ministry of Climate Change and Environmental Coordination to enhance cooperation on environmental protection and climate change.
The National Defence University Pakistan and Kyrgyzstan’s National Institute for Strategic Initiatives signed an MoU covering academic research and cooperation.
The two countries also signed an MoU between their respective virtual-asset authorities to promote cooperation in virtual assets and blockchain technologies.
Pakistan and Kyrgyzstan formally agreed to establish a sister-city relationship between Lahore and Osh.
Kyrgyz Post and Pakistan Post signed an agreement to strengthen cooperation in postal services and e-commerce, while the chambers of commerce of the two countries reached an agreement aimed at promoting business and trade ties.
