by ANSAR M BHATTI

Spells out priorities of the new President of Kazakhstan

ISLAMABAD, SPET 5 (DNA)- Ambassador of Kazakhstan Akan Rakhmetullin has said his country was keen to expand and diversify relations with Pakistan adding during his tenure as ambassador he would particularly focus on enhancing trade and economic links between the two countries.

The newly-arrived ambassador of Kazakhstan made these remarks during a press conference at his residence on Thursday.

The ambassador who presented his credentials to the President of Pakistan on September 4, further said tourism was yet another sphere both Kazakhstan and Pakistan can cooperate closely with each other.

To a question about direct flight the ambassador said both PIA and Air Astana had conducted a survey long ago to look into possibility of direct air link between the two countries however the plan could not materialize because of want of passengers, on this route.

Ambassador Akan, who has come to Pakistan on his second diplomatic stint, said his country had abandoned nuclear arsenals and therefore discouraged the idea of using nuclear arms.

He hoped both Pakistan and India would not resort to using nuclear weapons and ultimately both would make a judicious decision on this particular issue.

While talking about the priorities of the new President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, the ambassador said, the new President during his recent address to the nation assured to focus on following areas; ensuring rights and security of the citizens; developed and inclusive economy, Increased returns from the quasi-public sector, Effective small and medium sized businesses are a solid foundation for the development of cities and villages, Support for national businesses in international markets, Developed agricultural industry, Fair taxation and sound financial regulation, Effective use of the National Fund and increase in salaries.

The ambassador said in Kazakhstan everybody had right to take part in elections adding all political parties were independent to contest elections.

The ambassador said present trade and economic relations between the two countries need a spur as they do not reflect the proximity of ties between the two nations.

The new President of Kazakhstan in his address to the nation had said that approximately thirty years ago, we proclaimed our independence thus fulfilling the dream that our ancestors had for centuries.

Since that time, under the leadership of the First President of Kazakhstan – the Leader of the Nation Nursultan Nazarbayev, our country has become a stable and reputable state in the world.

Thanks to the solid unity of our nation, we have strengthened our independence and created opportunities for improving the wellbeing of our people. It was a time of creation and progress, peace and harmony.

The whole world recognized the way of development of the country and called it the Kazakhstan model or the Nazarbayev model.

“Today, we are able to double the achievements of our independence and to bring our country to a qualitatively new stage of development. We can achieve this by maintaining the continuity of the policy of the Leader of the Nation and through systemic reforms’.

He further said in his address that their work should proceed from the need for the full implementation of the Five Institutional Reforms and the Plan of the Nation developed by Elbasy. The work of the National Modernisation Commission that he created should be resumed.=DNA

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