Pakistan, Kazakhstan Must Unlock $1 Billion Trade Potential: LCCI PresidentStrategic Partnership to Drive Trade, Investment Growth: Ambassador

By Farzana Chaudhry, Lahore
Lahore: The President of Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), Faheem Ur Rehman Saigol, has emphasized the need for Pakistan and Kazakhstan to unlock their $1 billion trade potential through enhanced cooperation, improved connectivity, and stronger private sector engagement.
Addressing a meeting at LCCI, Ambassador of Kazakhstan Yerzhan Kistafin said that both countries have elevated their bilateral relations to a strategic partnership, agreeing to boost trade volume to $1 billion in the coming years. He highlighted the establishment of a high-level joint working group to develop a five-year roadmap, alongside six sectoral groups focusing on trade, transport, energy, agriculture, IT, and education.
The Ambassador noted significant progress in facilitating business activities, including the introduction of e-visas, strengthening banking channels, and plans to relaunch direct flights between Lahore and Almaty. He added that major initiatives such as a large-scale business forum, joint exhibitions, and collaborations in IT, artificial intelligence, education, and finance are also in the pipeline.
Welcoming the Ambassador, LCCI President Faheem Ur Rehman Saigol appreciated efforts to strengthen bilateral ties and stressed that Pakistan attaches great importance to its trade relations with Central Asian countries, particularly Kazakhstan, the region’s largest economy. He noted that despite strong diplomatic relations, the current trade volume remains far below its actual potential.
Saigol highlighted that Pakistan’s exports to Kazakhstan include rice, fruits, oilseeds, meat, textiles, and pharmaceuticals, while imports mainly comprise chemicals and zinc. He called for exploring new avenues in energy, oil and gas, petrochemicals, tourism, and IT, alongside improving connectivity through better banking systems, increased exchange of delegations, and more frequent direct flights.
Ambassador Yerzhan Kistafin described the recent visit of Kazakhstan’s President to Pakistan after more than two decades as a historic milestone, resulting in a joint declaration on strategic partnership and the signing of over 70 agreements and MoUs in trade, education, sports, and culture.
He further highlighted initiatives to strengthen institutional linkages, including academic and cultural exchanges, sports cooperation, and technology partnerships. Sister-city agreements have also been developed between Lahore and Turkestan, Karachi and Almaty, and Faisalabad and Shymkent, with more linkages under consideration.
The Ambassador said that new trade routes, including the Pakistan-Iran corridor and connectivity via the Karakoram Highway, are opening fresh opportunities for regional trade. He invited LCCI members to visit Kazakhstan to explore investment prospects and deepen institutional collaboration.
Reaffirming LCCI’s commitment, Faheem Ur Rehman Saigol said that bilateral trade could surpass $1 billion through joint efforts. He stressed the importance of identifying new products, enhancing business-to-business engagement, and facilitating private sector collaboration.
He concluded that improved regional connectivity and sustained peace would play a vital role in unlocking the full potential of economic cooperation between Pakistan and Kazakhstan.