Islamabad: Pakistan and Kazakhstan have agreed to enhance their bilateral agricultural cooperation, aiming to turn existing agreements and memorandums of understanding into concrete business and trade opportunities. This decision was reached following a meeting between Pakistan’s Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research, Rana Tanveer Hussain, and the Ambassador of Kazakhstan to Pakistan, Yerzhan Kistafin.

According to Press Information Department, the discussions focused on agricultural trade, food security, connectivity, and mechanization, with both parties expressing a commitment to expanding private-sector engagement. Minister Hussain highlighted agriculture as an area with significant potential for strengthening economic ties between the two nations and advocated for a result-oriented approach to bilateral commitments.

The two sides agreed to convene the next Pakistan-Kazakhstan Joint Working Group on Agriculture in Kazakhstan to assess progress and explore new cooperation areas. Kazakhstan showed interest in supplying wheat to Pakistan, with the latter agreeing to evaluate the proposal based on price, quality, and supply conditions.

Discussions also emphasized connectivity as crucial for agricultural trade, exploring proposed rail and regional transport links connecting Central Asia with Pakistan to reduce freight costs and access new markets. Pakistan expressed interest in exporting mangoes, guava, dates, bananas, potatoes, and onions to Kazakhstan, identifying logistics and market access as essential factors.

Agricultural mechanization was identified as a promising cooperation area, particularly in affordable tractors and machinery for small and medium-sized farmers. Both sides agreed to encourage partnerships among relevant institutions and private-sector stakeholders.

Minister Hussain emphasized the importance of coordination between the two countries’ agricultural institutions, research bodies, and business communities to promote technology exchange, investment, and market-oriented cooperation. The commitment to deepening relations and enhancing agricultural cooperation was reaffirmed as part of broader economic and strategic engagement.