Islamabad: President Asif Ali Zardari has welcomed the opening of the first Kazakhstan-Pakistan Artificial Intelligence Centre in Gujranwala. He was talking to Ambassador of Kazakhstan Yerzhan Kistafin, who called on him in Islamabad today.
According to Radio Pakistan, the President appreciated the Government of Kazakhstan for the one million dollars grant to the Pakistan Education Endowment Fund. He emphasized the necessity for effective implementation of the agreements and MoUs signed during the visit and for translating political goodwill into greater trade and investment.
He stated that the target of one billion dollars in bilateral trade within two years is achievable through sustained engagement. He pointed out opportunities in agriculture, energy, mining and minerals, IT, pharmaceuticals, textiles, and defense production, while stressing the importance of stronger road, rail, air, and maritime connectivity.
Asif Ali Zardari also acknowledged Ambassador Yerzhan Kistafin's contribution to strengthening Pakistan-Kazakhstan relations during his five-year tenure in Pakistan. Receiving the Ambassador for a farewell call at Aiwan-e-Sadr, the President noted that bilateral relations witnessed significant progress during this period.
In his remarks, the Ambassador informed that Kazakhstan is working to establish railway connectivity with Pakistan and that six sectoral working groups covering trade, transport, energy, agriculture, IT, and education are already operational. He mentioned that Kazakhstan has established campuses of several leading international universities, providing students from countries including Pakistan with opportunities to study at reputed international universities at considerably lower cost. He noted that around 1,000 Pakistani students are currently studying in Kazakh universities.
The Ambassador highlighted that Kazakhstan can serve as a potential market for Pakistani fruits, particularly mangoes, guava, falsa, and other tropical fruits. The President appreciated the Ambassador's active engagement with the Government, business community, and academic institutions.
He conveyed his warm regards and best wishes to President Tokayev and wished Ambassador Kistafin success in his future endeavors.