Islamabad, January 16, 2024, The Europe Today: Ambassador of Kazakhstan to Pakistan H.E. Mr. Yerzhan Kistafin met with Pakistan’s Federal Minister of National Heritage and Culture, Mr. Jamal Shah, in a dedicated effort to enhance cultural ties between the two nations.

In line with the directives from the President of Kazakhstan to strengthen relations with South Asian countries, Ambassador Kistafin underscored the pivotal role of cultural collaboration, particularly with Pakistan. The meeting celebrated the recent success of the 12th Kazakh-Pakistani Intergovernmental Commission meeting held on December 20-21, 2023. Ambassador Kistafin congratulated Minister Shah on the signed Memorandum of Understanding in the cultural domain, signifying a milestone in bilateral relations.

Minister Jamal Shah expressed a deep interest in solidifying cultural bonds, extending across institutions such as museums, libraries, theatres, and the film industry. Both sides affirmed their commitment to jointly organize various cultural events throughout the year, fostering a vibrant exchange between Kazakhstan and Pakistan.

Minister Shah extended an invitation to Kazakh cultural figures and artists to participate in Pakistan’s cultural festivals scheduled for 2024, envisioning a dynamic cross-cultural engagement. In a gesture of cultural exchange, Ambassador Kistafin presented Minister Jamal Shah with poetry by Abai translated into Punjabi, Balochi, Sindhi, and Pashto languages.

Additionally, he gifted the first Kazakh-English-Urdu phrasebook, symbolizing a commitment to further cooperation in the linguistic domain.

The meeting between Ambassador Yerzhan Kistafin and Minister Jamal Shah marks a significant step towards strengthening the cultural bonds between Kazakhstan and Pakistan, fostering mutual understanding and collaboration in various cultural domains.