Renewing ties: PM wraps up Kazakh visit on a high note

Offers Pakistan’s port facilities for landlocked central Asian state.

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan offered Kazakhstan its ports for overland trade in an attempt to boost relations between the  two countries, as Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani concluded his first state visit to the country on Wednesday.

The offer was made during talks held in Astana between Gilani, his Kazakh counterpart Karim Massimov and the country’s president, Nursultan Nazarbayev. Gilani also held one-on-one meetings with the two officials during his visit.

Following the meetings, both premiers briefed the media about the outcome of the talks, saying it was ‘productive in bilateral and regional perspectives’.

Gilani offered his counterpart to use Pakistan’s ports for overland trade.

Afghan reconciliation

Gilani said regional stability and peace is a matter of common concern for Pakistan and Kazakhstan, and they can work together to promote prospects of stability and peace in Afghanistan.

Communication

The Kazakh premier urged Gilani to commence direct flights by the state-owned Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) between Islamabad and Astana, which are only two and half hours apart by air.

Gilani agreed that such a commencement would also lead to a boost in ties between the two countries.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 8^th,  2011.