Analyst DR. Rasool Bakhush Raiees on Thursday said that Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani's recent visit to Kazakhstan would help to boost bilateral trade between Islamabad and Astana. Talking to PTV, he said Kazakhstan could also help Pakistan in meeting its energy requirements for industrial development and progress.
He said Islamabad should take solid steps to increase trade and economic ties with the Central Asian Republics (CARs), as the whole world was seeing towards natural resources of the region. He said Pakistan and Kazakhstan could enhance bilateral relations in education, tourism, defence and other fields. He said Afghan issue and regional instability were main hurdles in the way of Pakistan's relations with Central Asian Republics (CARs) otherwise Pakistan could meet its needs from the region.
He said both the countries had identified many sectors for bilateral co-operation during Prime Minister's visit, besides agreeing on counter terrorism strategy. He stressed upon the government to create opportunities for people to people contacts with Central Asian Republics.