PM Shehbaz, Kyrgyz president hold talks, sign multiple MoUs in Bishkek

Pakistan, Kyrgyzstan aim to raise bilateral trade to $200m in next two years

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif was given a red-carpet welcome and a guard of honour on Wednesday as he arrived at the Kyrgyz presidential palace, Yntymak Ordo (Palace of Unity), in Bishkek to meet President Sadyr Zhaparov.

After signing multiple memorandums of understanding (MoUs), PM Shehbaz joined President Zhaparov for a joint press briefing, where he expressed his gratitude to the Kyrgyz leadership and its people for the warm reception he received.

According to a post by the Government of Pakistan on X, Prime Minister Shehbaz was “warmly received by President Zhaparov” upon his arrival at the venue of the formal welcome reception.

Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday was given red carpet welcome and a guard of honour as he arrived at Kyrgyzstan presidential palace Yntymak Ordo (Palace of Unity) to meet President Sadyr Zhaparov.

As the Prime Minister arrived at the venue of the formal… pic.twitter.com/boKPGIKeA6

— Government of Pakistan (@GovtofPakistan) September 2, 2026

“The national anthems of Pakistan and Kyrgyzstan were played as the two leaders stood at the salute dais,” the government said.

It added that “the smartly-turned out contingents of the Kyrgyz armed forces presented a guard of honour”, which was reviewed by the prime minister.

PM Shehbaz was in Bishkek to attend the meeting of the Council of Heads of States of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO).

The government said both leaders “introduced their respective delegations to each other” before proceeding to their meeting.

The meeting was expected to include discussions on “bilateral as well as regional matters”, according to the government.

The prime minister's visit to Kyrgyzstan came as the country hosted the SCO heads of state meeting, bringing together leaders from member states of the regional grouping.

The formal welcome ceremony at Yntymak Ordo marked the start of Prime Minister Shehbaz's engagement with the Kyrgyz leadership during his visit to Bishkek.

PM Shehbaz, Kyrgyz president sign MoUs

PM Shehbaz on Wednesday called for Pakistan and Kyrgyzstan to immediately turn recently signed MoUs into agreements and increase bilateral trade from around $16 million to $200 million a year within the next two years.

Addressing a joint press briefing with Kyrgyz President Sadyr Zhaparov in Bishkek after the signing of several MoUs between the two countries, PM Shehbaz said the current level of trade was “not a patch on our friendship, our brotherhood, and our very strong relations”.

“Today, we should have signed not an MOU but an agreement to make sure that in the next two years we increase our bilateral trade from US$16 million to US$200 million per annum,” he added.

“This is not a very difficult task,” the prime minister added.

He urged the Kyrgyz president to move quickly on the matter, saying: “Let us, I think, convert straight away this MOU into an agreement, if you kindly agree, later after this meeting.” He further added that economic cooperation had been “a major focus” of his talks with Zhaparov and that the two sides had agreed their economic partnership needed to enter “a more practical and result-orientated stage”.

براہِ راست:پاکستان اور کرغستان کے درمیان مفاہمتی یادداشت پر دستخط اور وزیراعظم کا تقریب سے خطاب https://t.co/4eIEM0tHMX

— Ministry of Information & Broadcasting (@MoIB_Official) September 2, 2026

“To this end, we will be working on a comprehensive plan of practical measures aimed at gradually increasing bilateral trade to US$200 million, improving trade mechanisms, promoting joint investment projects, strengthening industrial cooperation, and expanding direct business-to-business contacts,” PM Shehbaz said.

The prime minister welcomed greater engagement between Pakistani businesses and financial institutions and their Kyrgyz counterparts, saying this would help advance the two countries’ shared vision of stronger economic cooperation.

“Connectivity remains central to our shared vision of closer economic integration between South Asia and Central Asia,” PM Shehbaz said. He welcomed the signing of an agreement on transit trade, saying it would “help facilitate trade, improve logistics, and create new opportunities for regional connectivity”.

The two sides also reaffirmed the importance of effectively implementing the Quadrilateral Agreement on Traffic and Transit and agreed to work towards simplifying transport, customs and administrative procedures, he said.

CASA-1000, energy cooperation

PM Shehbaz said energy cooperation was “another very important pillar” of the Pakistan-Kyrgyzstan partnership.

“We reaffirmed the importance of the timely implementation of the CASA-1000 project,” he said, adding that the two sides had welcomed the establishment of a joint working group on energy. The group would develop practical cooperation in electricity, hydropower, renewable energy, energy infrastructure and modern technologies, he said.

The prime minister also praised Zhaparov for his efforts to complete the Kyrgyz segment of the CASA-1000 project.

“I would like to once again appreciate your wonderful efforts to complete the CASA-1000 segment belonging to Kyrgyzstan under your very dynamic leadership,” PM Shehbaz told the Kyrgyz president.

He said the two countries had also expanded cooperation in “education, science, technology, health, culture, and tourism”.

The premier welcomed the establishment of sister-city relations between Osh and Lahore, describing them as “two ancient cities” whose landmarks reflected their shared cultural heritage. He said the iconic landmarks of Osh, including Suleiman-Too, and Lahore, including the Lahore Fort and Badshahi Mosque, reflected the “rich history and cultural heritage” of the two cities.

Security and defence cooperation also featured prominently in the talks, according to the prime minister.

“We reaffirmed our resolve to strengthen cooperation in the fight against terrorism, extremism, and other contemporary threats,” he said. The prime minister also said his discussions with Zhaparov had gone beyond bilateral relations to cover regional and international issues of mutual concern.

“In addition to bilateral issues, the President and I also discussed regional and international issues of mutual concern, and we agreed to deepen cooperation on environmental and climate issues,” he said. The two leaders had also agreed that effective multilateralism was essential to addressing global challenges.

“We also concurred that effective multilateralism is key to resolving priority issues of the day and achieving global peace and security,” PM Shehbaz said. “Your Excellency, we remain committed to work together at the United Nations and other multilateral fora,” he added.

The prime minister congratulated Kyrgyzstan on its Independence Day and conveyed Pakistan’s “warmest congratulations” on behalf of the Pakistani people. He also congratulated the country on hosting the sixth World Nomad Games, which he said he had attended at its opening ceremony two nights earlier.

“Pakistan is delighted to participate in these Games,” he said.

The prime minister also congratulated Kyrgyzstan on its election as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council for 2027-28 and on its successful chairmanship of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation for 2025-26. He praised the Kyrgyz president’s leadership, saying it was “heartening to witness Kyrgyzstan's remarkable progress and development”.

“Under your energetic leadership, Mr President, Kyrgyzstan has made impressive economic gains and taken meaningful steps to translate this progress into a quality of life through expanded public services and targeted support for vulnerable communities,” he said.

The prime minister said he fully shared Zhaparov’s commitment to deepening cooperation between the two countries and strengthening ties between their peoples.

“I fully share your commitment to deepening cooperation between our two countries and strengthening the bonds of friendship between our two peoples in pursuit of our shared interest in the broader cause of peace and cooperation among nations,” he said. PM Shehbaz also praised the “positive and constructive spirit” of the talks, saying they had culminated in the signing of several MoUs aimed at expanding bilateral cooperation and economic exchanges.

He said Pakistan considered Kyrgyzstan “its most important and valued partner in Central Asia”.

“Pakistan regards the Kyrgyz Republic as its most important and valued partner in Central Asia, and we mean it,” he said.

The prime minister expressed hope that his visit would lead to further high-level engagement between the two countries and invited Zhaparov to visit Pakistan. “It is my hope that this visit is the beginning of many such interactions between our two countries in times to come,” he added.

“Making use of this opportunity, Excellency, I invited you to visit Pakistan at a mutually convenient time, and I am pleased that His Excellency, you have graciously accepted my warm invitation.”

Concluding his remarks, PM Shehbaz said, “May the bonds of friendship between our two countries remain as enduring as our mountains, as warm as the hearts of our peoples, and ever rising towards new horizons.”

“Long live Pakistan-Kyrgyzstan friendship,” he concluded.