Pakistan and Kyrgyzstan have set an ambitious target to increase their bilateral trade volume to $100 million by 2025, marking a significant step toward stronger economic cooperation. This announcement came during the fifth session of the Pakistan-Kyrgyzstan Inter-Governmental Commission on Trade-Economic and Scientific-Technical Cooperation, held on July 28, 2025.
Decline of Trade Between Pakistan and Kyrgyzstan
In 2024-25, the trade volume between the two countries had declined to $5.18 million — less than half of the $11.2 million recorded in 2022-23 — underscoring the urgency for renewed collaboration.
Federal Minister for Power and Energy, Sardar Awais Ahmad Khan Leghari, stressed the importance of reinvigorating trade ties to meet the new goal. Kyrgyzstan’s Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers, Edil Baisalov, also emphasized building on shared cultural and historical links while exploring deeper cooperation in sectors like trade, investment, energy, agriculture, and tourism.
Key developments include a Transit Trade Agreement designed to improve regional connectivity, and an MoU between Pakistan’s Board of Investment and Kyrgyzstan’s National Investments Agency. The focus spans high-potential sectors such as textiles, IT, and pharmaceuticals. Kyrgyzstan also offered Pakistan’s National Logistics Corporation access to the At-Bashi Logistics Centre, aiming to strengthen enterprise-level links.
In agriculture, Pakistan is promoting basmati rice exports while Kyrgyzstan is interested in legumes. Talks on a tourism MoU are also underway, centered around leveraging both countries’ cultural assets and landscapes.
Pharmaceutical cooperation is on the table too — with Kyrgyzpharmacia exploring vaccine development and easier medicine registration in partnership with Pakistani firms.
Infrastructure plans are also gaining traction. Both countries, members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), discussed improved air and rail links, cargo transport under the 1995 International Motor Transportation Agreement, and a 500-kilovolt transmission line that could connect Kyrgyzstan, China, and Pakistan.
This evolving partnership signals a broader commitment to sustainable development, economic resilience, and stronger regional ties.
Published in SouthAsianDesk, July 28th, 2025
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