Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has announced plans to increase bilateral trade between Pakistan and Kyrgyzstan to $200 million annually, calling for stronger economic cooperation between the two countries.
Addressing a joint press stakeout in Bishkek, Prime Minister Shehbaz said Pakistan and Kyrgyzstan had agreed to move their economic partnership towards a more practical and result-oriented phase.
He said the two countries would work on a comprehensive plan aimed at gradually increasing bilateral trade to $200 million, improving trade mechanisms, promoting joint investment projects, strengthening industrial cooperation and expanding direct business-to-business contacts.
The prime minister noted that current bilateral trade stands at around $16 million, saying the figure does not reflect the strong friendship, brotherhood and relations between Pakistan and Kyrgyzstan.
“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 $16 million to $200 million per annum,” he said.
PM Shehbaz also welcomed greater engagement between Pakistani businesses and financial institutions and their Kyrgyz counterparts to advance economic cooperation.
He highlighted connectivity as a key component of closer economic integration between South Asia and Central Asia.
The prime minister also welcomed the signing of an agreement on transit trade, saying it would facilitate trade, improve logistics and create new opportunities for regional connectivity.
Pakistan and Kyrgyzstan are expected to focus on trade, investment, industrial cooperation and stronger private-sector links as part of efforts to deepen bilateral economic ties.
“We agree that our economic partnership must now move to a more practical and result-oriented stage. 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,… pic.twitter.com/UZ4VcSwV2T
— Government of Pakistan (@GovtofPakistan) September 2, 2026
Earlier, the prime minister joined leaders of regional countries at the SCO summit being held in Kyrgyzstan. Upon his arrival at the venue, he was warmly received by Kyrgyz President Sadyr Nurgozhoevich Zhaparov.
The two leaders shook hands and posed for a group photograph alongside other participating leaders before the formal proceedings began.
Besides Prime Minister Shehbaz, Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Tajik President Emomali Rahmon and Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev are attending the summit.
The SCO Council of Heads of State meeting is being chaired by President Sadyr Zhaparov as Kyrgyzstan holds the organisation’s rotating presidency for 2025–2026.
During the summit, Prime Minister Shehbaz will assume Pakistan’s chairmanship of the SCO Council of Heads of State for 2026–2027.
He will also participate in the SCO Plus Summit, which is being attended by representatives of non-member states and international organisations.
During his visit, the prime minister is accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar, Commerce Minister Jam Kamal Khan, Communications Minister Abdul Aleem Khan, Information and Broadcasting Minister Attaullah Tarar and senior officials.