Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif visited Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, from August 31 to September 2, 2026, at the invitation of President Sadyr Zhaparov, to participate in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Council of Heads of State meeting and SCO Plus Summit, while also holding bilateral talks aimed at strengthening Pakistan-Kyrgyzstan economic and trade ties.
Pakistan also assumed the chairmanship of the SCO Council of Heads of State for 2026–27
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has said Pakistan and Kyrgyzstan will work to increase bilateral trade from around $16 million to $200 million annually, as the two countries seek to turn their longstanding ties into a more practical and results-oriented economic partnership.
Addressing a joint press briefing with Kyrgyz President Sadyr Zhaparov in Bishkek on Wednesday, Prime Minister Shehbaz said the two sides had agreed to prepare a comprehensive plan focused on expanding trade, improving trade mechanisms, promoting joint investment projects, strengthening industrial cooperation and increasing direct business-to-business contacts.
He described the existing trade volume of around $16 million as far below the potential of relations between Pakistan and Kyrgyzstan, saying the two countries should have moved beyond memoranda of understanding towards concrete agreements aimed at achieving the $200 million annual trade target over the next two years.
Connectivity remained central to the discussions, with Prime Minister Shehbaz stressing the importance of stronger links between South and Central Asia. He welcomed the signing of an agreement on transit trade, saying it would facilitate commerce, 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 while agreeing to work on simplifying transport, customs and administrative procedures to facilitate the movement of goods and strengthen regional trade routes.
Energy Cooperation
Energy cooperation was another key area of discussion. Prime Minister Shehbaz underscored the importance of timely implementation of the CASA-1000 project, which is designed to strengthen electricity connectivity between Central and South Asia.
Pakistan and Kyrgyzstan also agreed to establish a joint working group on energy to develop practical cooperation in electricity, hydropower, renewable energy, energy infrastructure and modern technologies.
Educational And Cultural Cooperation
The prime minister said bilateral cooperation had also expanded into education, science and technology, health, culture and tourism, reflecting a broader effort to deepen relations beyond traditional diplomatic and political ties.
As part of efforts to strengthen people-to-people and cultural links, Pakistan’s Lahore and Kyrgyzstan’s Osh agreed to establish sister-city relations. Prime Minister Shehbaz described the two historic cities as sharing a rich cultural heritage, pointing to landmarks such as Osh’s Sulaiman-Too and Lahore’s Lahore Fort and Badshahi Mosque.
On the sidelines of the summit, Prime Minister Shehbaz held discussions with President Zhaparov as well as Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian. The meetings covered regional connectivity, trade, investment, energy and wider bilateral and regional issues.
The prime minister was accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Minister for Commerce Jam Kamal Khan, Minister for Communications Abdul Aleem Khan and Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar, among other senior officials.
Prime Minister Shehbaz thanked President Zhaparov and the Kyrgyz government and people for the warm welcome extended to his delegation and congratulated Kyrgyzstan on its Independence Day.
He also congratulated Kyrgyzstan on hosting the sixth World Nomad Games, its election as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council for 2027–28 and its successful chairmanship of the SCO for 2025–26.
The prime minister particularly acknowledged the role of Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar and his team in supporting Kyrgyzstan’s campaign for the UN Security Council seat.
He further praised Kyrgyzstan’s economic progress under President Zhaparov, noting what he described as improvements in public services and targeted support for vulnerable communities.
The latest agreements and proposed trade target come as Pakistan seeks to strengthen economic links with Central Asian states and improve connectivity between South and Central Asia. For Islamabad and Bishkek, increasing bilateral trade to $200 million from the current level of around $16 million would represent a significant expansion of economic engagement and would place greater emphasis on transit connectivity, investment, energy and private-sector cooperation
