Direct flights between Kazakhstan and Pakistan to commence from July 8

ISLAMABAD: In a significant development for regional economic and trade integration, direct flights between Kazakhstan and Pakistan are set to begin from July 8th. The announcement was made by Kazakh Ambassador Yerzhan Kystaubayev during a round table conference held in National Press Club (NPC), Islamabad.
The commencement of direct flights marks a crucial step towards enhancing economic, social, and cultural integration between the two countries. The initial route will connect Almaty, the largest city in Kazakhstan, with Lahore, a major city in Pakistan. The flight duration between the two cities is estimated to be two hours, allowing for convenient travel and facilitating mutual economic and trade relations.
Kystaubayev emphasized the significance of this development, stating that direct flights will open up extensive opportunities for cooperation in various sectors, including agriculture, education, sports, and tourism. The ambassador also highlighted the strategic importance of Pakistan’s ports of Gwadar and Karachi, which provide access to Central Asia, Europe, and Africa, making them particularly appealing to Kazakhstan.
The establishment of direct air services between Almaty and Karachi has already proven successful, prompting plans for similar flights between other major cities such as Islamabad and Karachi. The ambassador revealed that Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and Pakistani Prime Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif recently discussed matters of mutual interest, underscoring the commitment of both nations to strengthen their top-level leadership for the sake of economic, trade, and diplomatic relations.
Dr. Talat Shabbir, Director of the Pakistan-China Study Center and Central Asia at the National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST), highlighted the extensive opportunities for economic, trade, and diplomatic cooperation between Kazakhstan and Pakistan. With 35 agreements already signed between the two nations, covering various fields, Shabbir expressed optimism about the positive impact of the direct flights.
The news of direct flights between Kazakhstan and Pakistan has also garnered attention from experts and officials. Nair Ali, Secretary Finance of the National Press Club Islamabad, emphasized the significant importance of Central Asia, with Kazakhstan playing a crucial role in the region. He stressed the immense potential for cooperation in economic and trade relations between the two countries.
With the commencement of direct flights, both Kazakhstan and Pakistan are poised to further strengthen their bilateral ties, facilitating increased economic cooperation, trade exchanges, and people-to-people contacts. The development holds great promise for fostering mutual prosperity and regional integration.