ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: A Round Table on “Day of the Republic of Kazakhstan and Political Reforms in the framework of building a New Kazakhstan” was organized by the Institute of Peace and Diplomatic Studies (IPDS), the Embassy of Kazakhstan to Pakistan, and the Riphah Institute of Public Policy, Riphah International University in Islamabad.
The scholars from Pakistan and Kazakhstan spoke on occasion in the hybrid format.
Speaking at the Round Table, the scholars said that Pakistan and Kazakhstan are on an upward trajectory to collaborate and promote regional connectivity. They said that both Countries, having strong three decades of bilateral cooperation, are contributing towards shaping the regional future by encouraging peace, dialogue, and trade.
They said that 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.
In her opening remarks, the President of IPDS Farhat Asif that the Roundtable is organized to revisit the important contours of the relations between Pakistan and Kazakhstan and understand the new Kazakhstan.
In his keynote address, the Ambassador of Kazakhstan to Pakistan Yerzhan Kistafin 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.
Ambassador Yerzhan Kistafin 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, the 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, the Chief Researcher of the Eurasian Studies Program Institute of World Economics and Politics (IWEP) in Kazakhstan Dr. Lidiya Parkhomchik enunciated that Kazakhstan has a multivector policy and the country is playing its constructive role in bridging the divide between the east and west.
Dr. Lidiya Parkhomchik spoke at length about Pakistan-Kazakhstan’s relations in the international arena.
The former Vice Chancellor of Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Women’s University Professor Dr. Razia Sultana 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.
The Head of the Political Research Department of Kazakhstan, Institute for Strategic Studies under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Toktarov Yermek Bauyrzhanovich explained the political reforms and overall process that led to these important steps for the Country.
The Pro- Vice-Chancellor of the University of Peshawar Professor Dr. Zahid Anwar 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.
The Deputy Director of the Institute of Parliamentarism in Kazakhstan Dr. Kaliyeva Elmira Abdykovna spoke about the constitutional transformations in Kazakhstan and their contribution to changing the role of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
The Head of the Department of International Relations at Muslim Youth University Dr. Muhammad Munir spoke about the collaboration between Pakistan and Kazakhstan in regional and international organizations.
The Head of the International Relations Department Foreign Policy Research Institute in Kazakhstan Dr. Gauhar Khalilovna Beiseeva shed light on the current state and prospects of Kazakh-Pakistani cooperation.
Finally, the Head of Department of IR at Riphah International University Dr. Mushab Yousafi 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.
