Kazakhstan president to visit Pakistan on Feb 3 to sign $7 billion rail connectivity pact

President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev is scheduled to visit Pakistan on February 3, 2026, to sign an agreement on Pakistan–Kazakhstan rail connectivity. The visit and proposed signing were discussed during a meeting between Kazakhstan’s Ambassador to Pakistan Yerzhan Kistafin and Federal Minister for Railways Muhammad Hanif Abbasi, according to a news report. 

The Pakistan–Kazakhstan Rail Connectivity Project is estimated at $7 billion and is expected to be completed within three years. The proposed network will extend through Chaman and connect Pakistan with Afghanistan, Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan, aiming to enhance regional rail links.

The memorandum of understanding is expected to be formally signed during the Kazakh president’s visit, strengthening bilateral cooperation in the railway sector.

During the meeting, both sides discussed rail projects linking Pakistan with Central Asia and their potential impact on trade and regional connectivity. The project has been identified as part of Pakistan’s regional connectivity framework.

Officials said the rail link is intended to facilitate cross-border trade and improve transport connectivity across the region, with Pakistan positioned as a transit hub for Central Asian markets.