President Asif Zardari and Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. Photo: screenshot
President Asif Ali Zardari on Wednesday conferred the country’s highest civilian award, the Nishan-e-Pakistan, on Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev during his official visit to the country.
A special investiture ceremony was held at Aiwan-e-Sadr, which was attended by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Deputy Prime Minister and External Affairs Minister Ishaq Dar and other dignitaries.
The president also held delegation-level talks with his Kazakh counterpart and both sides agreed to deepen cooperation in trade, connectivity, defense and regional stability.
🇵🇰🇰🇿 President Asif Ali Zardari met President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev at Aiwan-e-Sadr, held delegation level talks and conferred Nishan-e-Pakistan on him. Both sides agreed to deepen cooperation in trade, connectivity, defense and regional stability. @TokayevKZ @aqorda_press pic.twitter.com/Gy0W04JYzR
— The President of Pakistan (@PresOfPakistan) February 4, 2026
Earlier in the day, Pakistan and Kazakhstan signed more than 30 memorandums of understanding (MoUs) aimed at achieving a trade target of $1 billion across multiple sectors.
Addressing a joint press conference after the signing ceremony, Prime Minister Shehbaz said the current level of trade does not reflect the strength of bilateral ties or the economic potential of the two countries.
“Unfortunately, our trade volume is a meager US$250 million, which does not reflect the strength of our friendship and the potential of both countries. Let us commit to increasing our trade volume to US$1 billion in the coming year,” he said.
President Tokayev described Pakistan as an “important and reliable partner in South Asia and beyond.”
“Our people are united by centuries-old ties rooted in the legacy of the great Silk Road, as well as by deep cultural and spiritual affinity,” Tokayev said.
Read more: Pakistan and Kazakhstan sign more than 30 memorandums of understanding
“Our nations share common values, traditions and aspirations for the future,” he added.
Tokayev said the two sides had “signed a historic document – a joint declaration – on the establishment of a strategic partnership between Pakistan and Kazakhstan.”
“By raising our relations to a new level, we open up immense opportunities to engage across the full spectrum of bilateral and multilateral agendas,” he said.
Tokayev arrived in Pakistan on Tuesday and was received at Nur Khan air base by Prime Minister Shehbaz and President Zardari. A six-member squadron of Pakistan Air Force fighter jets performed an aerial salute as their aircraft entered Pakistani airspace.
