Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday announced that Pakistan will open all three of its major seaports — Karachi, Port Qasim and Gwadar — for Kyrgyzstan’s access to global trade routes, marking a major geo-economic milestone during Kyrgyz President Sadyr Zhaparov’s first official visit to Islamabad.
The offer, which includes Gwadar Port in Balochistan — Pakistan’s emerging deep-sea hub under CPEC — positions the province as a key gateway linking Central Asia with the Arabian Sea. Officials said the move could significantly enhance transit trade through Balochistan and deepen Pakistan’s footprint in regional logistics.
“Pakistan stands ready to provide the Kyrgyz Republic access to regional and global markets through our ports of Karachi, Bin Qasim and Gwadar,”
PM Shehbaz said during a joint press appearance alongside President Zhaparov.
This is the first visit by a Kyrgyz head of state in 20 years, signalling renewed diplomatic engagement between Islamabad and Bishkek.
Gwadar’s Strategic Role Highlighted
Senior officials present at the meeting were briefed on the potential of using Gwadar Port as a primary node for Kyrgyz transit cargo, especially for access to Middle Eastern, African and European markets.
The Kyrgyz transport and commerce ministries also inked an MoU with Pakistan’s railways and commerce ministries on the utilisation of Pakistani ports for regional connectivity, a development that experts say will bring renewed activity to Balochistan’s coastal corridor.
The deep-sea port in Gwadar holds particular relevance for Central Asian states seeking a shorter, cheaper outlet to the sea compared to traditional routes through Iran or Russia.
Trade Vision: From $15m to $200m
PM Shehbaz said a joint business forum would act as a “$200 million MoU,” aimed at lifting bilateral trade from the current $15–16 million to $200 million within two years. Pakistan’s trade volume with Kyrgyzstan had dropped sharply from $11.2m in 2022–23 to $5.18m in 2024–25, a slide both sides aim to reverse through improved connectivity and reduced logistical barriers.
CASA-1000, Investment, Security Cooperation
President Zhaparov reaffirmed Kyrgyzistan’s commitment to the CASA-1000 project — expected to become operational by January 2027 — which will bring surplus Central Asian electricity into Pakistan.
The Kyrgyz leader emphasised cooperation in trade, transport, logistics, education, security and tourism, noting that over 12,000 Pakistani students are currently studying in Kyrgyz universities.
Both countries also reiterated commitments to jointly combat terrorism, extremism and transnational crime — areas where Balochistan’s security and transit routes remain important for Pakistan’s internal stability and regional trade ambitions.
15 MoUs Signed Across Key Sectors
Pakistan and Kyrgyzstan signed 15 MoUs in fields including commerce, mining, ports and logistics, energy, health, justice, tourism, culture, agriculture, customs data exchange, and youth cooperation. A separate pact on port utilisation will directly support cargo movement through Gwadar and Balochistan’s transport infrastructure, officials noted.
A sister-city agreement was also signed between Islamabad and Bishkek.
A New Phase of Pakistan–Central Asia Connectivity
President Zhaparov praised Pakistan as a “brotherly and reliable partner,” while inviting PM Shehbaz Sharif to visit Kyrgyzstan and attend the 2026 SCO Summit and the World Nomad Games in Bishkek.
The Pakistani premier described the visit as a turning point, saying it would inject “fresh impetus” into relations and strengthen Pakistan’s role as a regional transit and connectivity hub linking Central Asia to the Arabian Sea through Gwadar and Balochistan.
