Islamabad, May 27, 2025 – The Islamabad Policy Research Institute (IPRI) organized a conference dedicated to the launch of the book “Examining the Feasibility of an East-West Economic Corridor for South and Central Asia.” The publication is the result of a joint academic study conducted by IPRI and the RAND Corporation (USA).

The Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives of Pakistan, H.E. Mr. Ahsan Iqbal, and the Ambassador of Kazakhstan to Pakistan, H.E. Mr. Yerzhan Kistafin, were invited as the Chief Guests to the event.

The conference addressed topics related to regional infrastructure, connectivity, and the relevance of developing transport and logistics corridors aimed at enhancing regional cooperation, particularly in the trade and economic sphere.

In his remarks, Ambassador Yerzhan Kistafin elaborated on Kazakhstan’s efforts in this direction. He emphasized the strategic priority given by Kazakhstan’s leadership to the development of various transport and logistics routes designed to transform Kazakhstan from the world’s largest landlocked country into a key transit hub connecting nations across the region, including via Pakistan.

The Ambassador briefed participants on the outcomes of the 13th session of the Joint Kazakhstan-Pakistan Intergovernmental Commission held in Islamabad. He also presented Kazakhstan’s initiative on the construction of the Trans-Afghan railway line passing through Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, and Pakistan, with the ultimate objective of providing access to Pakistan’s seaports and fostering further cooperation with the countries of the Gulf, Africa, and Southeast Asia.

He underlined the importance of deepening transport and logistics cooperation between Kazakhstan and Pakistan, which will undoubtedly contribute to boosting regional trade between South and Central Asia and may also help connect continents and elevate bilateral partnership to a qualitatively new level.

Source : https://www.gov.kz/memleket/entities/mfa-islamabad/press/news/details/1007040?lang=kk