- Pakistan can barter oil, gas and wheat with Kazakhstan to overcome dollar shortage
- Undue security concerns are key hurdles to bring investors and tourists in Pakistan
- Kazakhstan has 100pc literacy rate and zero crime rate which best suits investors growth of industry
LAHORE,Pakistan(Nadeem Abbas): Kazakhstan is a land of an opportunity with huge oil and gas reserves as well as wheat stock and it is a golden time that the government of Pakistan, which faces dollar shortage, can barter energy and grain with Kazakhs government.
Pakistan can exchange trade with Astana via three routes – Afghanistan, Iran and China’s belt & road initiative route.
This piece of advice was shared by Rao Khalid Khan, an Honorary Consul General of Kazakhstan in Lahore. He said Pakistani businesses can also explore avenues of trade and business in Kazakhstan which has largest land area equal to the size of India. Moreover, Kazakhstan has 95 percent literacy and zero crime rate, which is an ideal for business opportunities.
He said Pakistan which is facing wheat shortage should purchase wheat from Kazakhstan, which is producing surplus grains and exporting it to the world especially Europe and Africa, to fulfill its local requirements and can export it to the world capitalizing on Kazakhstan’s landlocked situation.
Rao Khalid said Kazakhstan imports rice, orange carrots, medical equipments and son on from Pakistan and in exchange Islamabad can purchase oil, gas and wheat from a brother Islamic state. To a question, Rao Khalid Khan said Pakistan has an undocumented trade with Kazakhstan which largely comes through smuggling and illegal routes.
He said direct flight operations between Lahore and Almaty with two weekly frequencies is bringing positive results as people and businesses are coming closer.
To a question about bringing an investment in Pakistan, Rao Khalid Khan said unluckily in Pakistan undue security concerns are key hurdles to bring investors and tourists in Pakistan as security officials stop foreigners at various check posts. He said on arrival each and every foreigner should be thoroughly questioned about his purpose of visit to Pakistan but after exit from airport foreigners and investors should not be disturbed at all.
He shared his personal experience that at several times Kazakhstan ambassador was barred from entering cantonment area in Lahore on security concerns. He said they tried to reach and talk to high security officers but security guards at the check post did not pay attention to their request despite the fact that ambassador showed his identity card. Rao Khalid said such incidents create bad image in the minds of foreign investors. The world wide investors are given due recognition and coverage so that next time they bring with them more investors and investment.
Rao Khalid Khan said Kazakhstan is home to more than 18 religious’ denominations, making it one of the most ethnically diverse countries in the world. However despite religious diversity, kazakshtan is a peaceful country with zero sectarian clash and it is observed that the Kazakhs give due to respect to other people and their beliefs. Kazakhstan has been a supporter of a peaceful, constructive foreign policy and an initiator of providing platforms for negotiations for the settlement of various international issues.
Kazakhstan arranges global conference on inter faith harmony every year to bring the people of different origin and race, and religion closer and discuss their issue and settle them amicably.
Kazakhstan has estimated 30 billion barrels of oil reserves. With 172 oilfields, Kazakhstan possesses 3 percent of global oil reserves, putting it among the world’s top 15 countries in terms of oil reserves. Kazakhstan also has significant natural gas potential. Its proven gas reserves stand at 3 trillion cubic meters and projected reserves at 5 trillion cubic meters. Kazakhstan has world biggest space centre which is run by Russia.
