The Kazakhstan Ambassador to Pakistan, Mr. Yerzhan Kistafin, called on the Federal Minister for Inter-Provincial Coordination, Mr. Ehsan ur Rehman Mazari at the Ministry of Inter-Provincial Coordination (IPC) in Islamabad on Wednesday.Federal Secretary Ahmed Hanif Orakzai was also present.

The two dignitaries discussed matters of mutual cooperation between Pakistan and Kazakhstan focusing on sports, tourism, flight connectivity, ease in visa regime, and facilitation of business community from both sides.

The Federal Minister for Inter-Provincial Coordination, Mr. Mazari welcomed the Ambassador of Kazakhstan and appreciated the efforts of the Government of Kazakhstan in strengthening the bilateral relations between the two countries.

The Federal Minister for Inter-Provincial Coordination, also stressed the need for further enhancing cooperation in the field of sports, tourism, flight connectivity, and facilitation of business community. He further stated that the two countries should work together to promote people-to-people contacts and enhance trade and investment between the two countries.

The Ambassador of Kazakhstan, H.E Yerzhan Kistafin, expressed his gratitude to the Federal Minister for Inter-Provincial Coordination, for his warm hospitality and expressed his commitment to further strengthening the bilateral relations between the two countries. He also highlighted the importance of the flight connectivity between the two countries and told that a direct flight from Lahore to Almaty is likely to be started in April this year followed by the one from Karachi to Almaty in May, 2023, this will be huge step towards achieving other bilateral goals of cooperation, he added. The ambassador also expressed his commitment to work in liaison with both the sides for strong and durable connectivity at all level especially in trade and tourism for both the countries have breathtaking sights. He also told that for the business community a significant stride had been taken in terms of ease in visa regime which will be processed within no more than three days and also a MOU has been signed between BoK Pakistan and Bank of Kazakhstan to establish correspondent accounts for business people. H.E Mr. Yerzhan also told that Kazakhstan side is working on prospective MOU on tourism, which will likely to be signed between the two countries in coming months covering various aspects of tourism cooperation by bringing it to a revolutionary level.

Federal Minister appreciated the efforts and assured that a lot is yet to be explored in sports especially Taekwondo and Judo between the two countries and we are hoping to start a massive exchange program of coaches and players for mutual benefit in various sports.

The two dignitaries agreed to work together to promote people-to-people contacts, enhance trade and investment, and strengthen the bilateral relations between the two countries. They further agreed to explore ways to facilitate the business at all possible level.