By Javed Iqbal
Islamabad, (Parliament Times) : Pakistan and Kazakhstan are on an upward trajectory to collaborate and promote regional connectivity. Both countries, having strong three decades of bilateral cooperation, are contributing towards shaping the regional future by encouraging peace, dialogue, and trade.
Kazakhstan has played its key role as regional peace and dialogue hub and, over the years, has made substantial political, parliamentary, and administrative reforms to move the country forward in peace and progress. These were the remarks by the speakers during the Round Table on “Day of the Republic of Kazakhstan and Political Reforms in the framework of building a New Kazakhstan.” organized by the Institute of Peace and Diplomacy (IPDS), Embassy of Kazakhstan to Pakistan and Riphah Insitute of Public Policy, Riphah International University. Scholars from Pakistan and Kazakhstan spoke on occasion in the hybrid format. In her opening remarks, Farhat Asif, President of IPDS, said Roundtable is organized to revisit the important contours of the relations between Pakitan and Kazakhstan and understand the new Kazakhstan. In his keynote address Ambassador Yerzhan Kistafin, Ambassador of Kazakhstan to Pakistan, reiterated that Pakistan and Kazakhstan have been supporting each other for three decades, and the two are successfully cooperating in a bilateral and multilateral format. Over the years, this partnership has been strengthened through cooperation and outstanding diplomatic, economic, and political consultations.
He said that through the joint efforts from both sides and the implementation of essential energy projects for cementing the Pakistan and Turkmenistan relationship. While highlighting the recent speech by the President of Kazakhstan and the steps taken by the government for the political reforms, Ambassador said that these are meant to create a path for peace, development, and inclusiveness in the society for the people to contribute towards building new and prosperous Kazakhstan. While speaking on occasion, Dr. Lidiya Parkhomchik, Chief Researcher, Eurasian Studies Program Institute of World Economics and Politics (IWEP), Kazakhstan, enunciated that Kazakhstan has a multivector policy and the country is playing its constructive role in bridging the divide between the east and west. She spoke at length about Pakistan-Kazakhstan’s relations in the international arena. Prof. Dr. Razia Sultana, Former Vice Chancellor of Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Women’s University, highlighted the role of Kazakhstan in playing its humanitarian and peacebuilding role for regional peace and prosperity.
She said that Kazakhstan and Pakistan are collaborating in this regard. Toktarov Yermek Bauyrzhanovich, Head of the Political Research Department of Kazakhstan, Institute for Strategic Studies under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, explained the political reforms and overall process that led to these important steps for the country. Prof. Dr. Zahid Anwar, Pro- Vice-Chancellor of the University of Peshawar, Pakistan, highlighted prospects for scientific and education linkages between Kazakhstan and Pakistan and said there should be deep-rooted knowledge exchanges between people from both sides. Dr. Kaliyeva Elmira Abdykovna, the Deputy Director of the Institute of Parliamentarism, Kazakhstan, spoke about the constitutional transformations in Kazakhstan and their contribution to changing the role of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan. Dr. Muhammad Munir, Head of the Department of International Relations at Muslim Youth University, spoke about the collaboration between Pakistan and Kazakhstan in regional and international organizations. Dr. Gauhar Khalilovna Beiseeva, the Head of the International Relations Department Foreign Policy Research Institute, Kazakhstan, shed light on the current state and prospects of Kazakh-Pakistani cooperation.
Finally, Dr. Mushab Yousafi, HoD, Department of IR, Riphah International University, Islamabad, thanked the participants. The event was attended by foreign diplomats, prominent politicians, heads of think tanks and public organizations, universities of Pakistan, businessmen, and local media representatives.
