Gilani leaves for Astana on two-day official visit

Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani left for Astana here on Tuesday on a two-day official visit to Kazakhstan.

Talking to the media persons at Chaklala Airbase prior to his departure, he said Kazakhstan is an important central Asian state and his visit will help further promote bilateral relations between the two countries in economy and trade. He said relations between Pakistan and Kazakhstan are rooted in culture, history and geography.

He said during his meetings with Kazakh leadership, he will be discussing the vast scope of cooperation in the fields of trade, energy and infrastructure.

To a question the Prime Minister said presently we are having our trade with Afghanistan and it will be extended to central Asian states. He said there exists great potential of trade and investment in the sectors of oil and gas, mines and minerals and fertilizer in these central Asian states.

Minister for Production Anwar Ali Cheema, Senator Ghulam Ali, Governor Punjab Sardar Latif Khosa and PPP leader Qammar Zaman Kaira are accompanying the Prime Minister to Astana

During his stay, the Prime Minister will hold talks with his Kazakh counterpart Karim Massimov and President Nursultan Nazarbayev on ways to enhance bilateral trade.The two countries are also likely to sign an agreement between their Chambers of Commerce and Industries.
Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani will also hold a joint interaction with media along with Prime Minister Massimov besides giving interviews to the leading Kazakh dailies. SANA