Pakistan, Kyrgyzstan set $200m trade target, sign 16 accords

Pakistan and Kyrgyzstan have set an ambitious target to increase their bilateral trade to $200 million within two years, a significant jump from the current level of approximately $16 million. The commitment was made during a visit by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to Bishkek, where the two nations signed 16 agreements and memorandums of understanding to deepen cooperation across trade, security, education, and connectivity. The trade target was announced during a joint press conference on Wednesday, September 2, 2026, following delegation-level talks at the Presidential Palace. Prime Minister Sharif and Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov witnessed the signing ceremony for the multiple accords. The prime minister emphasized that the current trade volume "is not a patch on our friendship and our very strong relations," and called for a more practical and result-oriented economic partnership. A key development was the signing of a formal agreement on transit trade, which the prime minister said would help facilitate commerce, improve logistics, and create new opportunities for regional connectivity.