As part of her official visit to the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Minister of State for Federal Education and Professional Training, Ms. Wajiha Qamar, held a productive meeting with the Chairman of the Management Board and Rector of Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, Professor Zhanseit Tuimebayev, to further strengthen bilateral cooperation in higher education, research, science, technology, and innovation between Pakistan and Kazakhstan.
During the meeting, both sides agreed to establish the Kazakhstan–Pakistan Research Centre at Al-Farabi Kazakh National University under a Memorandum of Cooperation. The Centre will serve as a dedicated platform for enhancing institutional linkages between universities of the two countries by promoting collaborative research, academic exchanges, innovation, and the joint development of scientific initiatives.
The Minister of State appreciated the international standing, academic excellence, and research achievements of Al-Farabi Kazakh National University. She reaffirmed the Government of Pakistan's commitment to expanding bilateral cooperation in higher education and scientific research, emphasising that strengthened academic partnerships are vital for addressing shared regional and global challenges through knowledge, innovation, and mutual collaboration.
Ms. Wajiha Qamar highlighted the significant progress being made by Pakistani universities in the fields of artificial intelligence, information technology, digital innovation, and other emerging technologies. She noted that these advancements offer substantial opportunities for collaborative research, knowledge exchange, and innovation with Al-Farabi Kazakh National University. She expressed confidence that the establishment of the Kazakhstan–Pakistan Research Centre would open a new chapter in educational and scientific cooperation between Pakistan and Kazakhstan.
The Minister of State also extended an invitation to the leadership and faculty of Al-Farabi Kazakh National University to visit Pakistan to explore partnerships with leading Pakistani universities, strengthen faculty and student mobility, expand joint research programmes, facilitate academic exchanges, and promote collaborative scientific training and innovation.
Professor Zhanseit Tuimebayev welcomed the initiative and highlighted the University's growing engagement with Pakistani higher education institutions through academic mobility programmes, joint research projects, international conferences, and institutional collaboration. He expressed confidence that the establishment of the Research Centre would serve as a significant platform for fostering long-term scientific cooperation and strengthening academic ties between the two countries.
At the conclusion of the meeting, both sides endorsed the proposed initiatives and agreed to develop a comprehensive roadmap for their phased implementation. The agreement reflects the shared commitment of Pakistan and Kazakhstan to advancing higher education, promoting research excellence, and fostering innovation through sustained institutional collaboration, thereby contributing to stronger bilateral relations and greater academic engagement between the two friendly countries.
