BISHKEK:
Pakistan and Kyrgyzstan on Wednesday, September 02, 2026, signed 16 agreements and memorandums of understanding (MoU) to expand cooperation in trade, education, health, science and other areas, as Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif called for stronger economic ties and higher bilateral trade.
Speaking at a joint press conference with Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov at the presidential palace in Bishkek, Shehbaz Sharif said Pakistan wanted to increase bilateral trade to $200 million over the next two years.
The prime minister said the current annual trade volume of about $16 million was far below the level that matched the friendly relations between the two countries. He called for greater economic interaction and stronger cooperation to unlock the potential of bilateral ties.
The agreements covered several areas of cooperation between Pakistan and Kyrgyzstan and strengthened cooperation between their education ministries.
They also signed a program of cooperation between their foreign ministries. Another MoU was signed between the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad and the Kyrgyz National Institute for Strategic Initiatives.
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
An agreement was signed to improve cooperation against trafficking in narcotics, psychotropic substances, and smuggling. The Pakistan Medical and Dental Council and Kyrgyzstan’s Ministry of Health also agreed to cooperate in medical education.
Pakistan and Kyrgyzstan also signed an agreement on scientific and technical cooperation and on environmental protection, and climate change. The two countries also exchanged documents to promote trade cooperation between their chambers of commerce.
Furthermore, a separate agreement was signed to establish a sister-city relationship between Lahore and Osh, a city in Kyrgyzstan. The National Defence University Islamabad and the Kyrgyz National Institute for Strategic Initiatives signed an agreement to promote cooperation in research.
Additionally, the agreements covered cooperation between the postal departments of Pakistan and Kyrgyzstan in postal services and e-commerce, as well as an agreement on the extradition of accused persons.
Shehbaz Sharif thanked Japarov, the Kyrgyz government and people for the warm welcome given to him and his delegation during the visit.
Earlier, Shehbaz arrived at Yntymak Ordo, where he received a red-carpet welcome and a guard of honor, according to an official statement from the Pakistani government.
Shehbaz Sharif also invited the Kyrgyz president Japarov to visit Pakistan again and said he hoped relations between the two countries would reach new heights.
