ISLAMABAD: Kyrgyzstan’s President Sadyr Japarov arrived in the federal capital on Wednesday for a two-day official visit, marking his first trip to Pakistan as head of state. Zhaparov, accompanied by a high-level delegation including senior cabinet ministers, officials, and business leaders, landed at Nur Khan Airbase. Upon arrival, he was welcomed by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and President Asif Ali Zardari. A 21-gun salute was fired in honour of the visiting leader, and children dressed in traditional attire presented him with a bouquet. A statement from the Prime Minister’s Office confirmed that the visit had been extended to President Zhaparov by Prime Minister Sharif. The delegation accompanying the president will engage in discussions to further strengthen bilateral ties. Pakistan and Kyrgyzstan enjoy longstanding relations, built on shared cultural, historical, and spiritual ties. In recent months, the two nations have made efforts to deepen cooperation, particularly in areas such as cryptocurrency, blockchain technology, and digital finance. An agreement to boost bilateral trade to $100 million was reaffirmed during the intergovernmental commission meeting in July. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025