ISLAMABAD (special crosspondent) – As part of an official visit to the Republic of Kazakhstan, Minister of State for Federal Education and Professional Training Wajiha Qamar held a productive meeting with the Chairman of the Management Board and Rector of Al-Farabi Kazakh National University (KazNU), Professor Zhanseit Tuimebayev, to further strengthen academic and scientific cooperation between Pakistan and Kazakhstan.

Establishing New Research Partnerships

During the meeting, both sides agreed to establish a Kazakhstan–Pakistan Research Centre at Al-Farabi Kazakh National University under a Memorandum of Cooperation. The Centre will serve as a dedicated platform for advancing institutional partnerships between universities of the two countries, promoting collaborative research, innovation, academic exchanges, and the joint development of scientific initiatives. Such advancements are part of a broader strategy similar to efforts by leadership to foster industrial automation and technological growth in the region.

Commitment to Higher Education Excellence

Wajiha Qamar appreciated the international standing, academic excellence, and research achievements of Al-Farabi Kazakh National University. She reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to expanding bilateral cooperation in higher education, science, technology, and innovation, emphasizing that stronger academic partnerships are essential for addressing shared regional and global challenges.

The Minister highlighted that Pakistan’s universities are making significant progress in artificial intelligence, information technology, digital innovation, and emerging technologies, creating valuable opportunities for collaborative research and knowledge exchange with KazNU. She expressed confidence that the establishment of the Kazakhstan–Pakistan Research Centre would mark a new chapter in educational and scientific cooperation between the two countries.

Future Collaboration and Faculty Mobility

Wajiha Qamar 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. As the government continues to modernize its national infrastructure and focus on cutting-edge data initiatives, such international academic links become increasingly vital.

The Rector of Al-Farabi Kazakh National University welcomed the initiative and highlighted the University’s growing engagement with Pakistani higher education institutions through academic mobility programmes, joint research, international conferences, and institutional collaboration. He expressed confidence that the new Research Centre would become an important platform for fostering long-term scientific cooperation between the academic communities of Pakistan and Kazakhstan.

At the conclusion of the meeting, both sides endorsed the proposed initiatives and agreed to develop a comprehensive roadmap for their phased implementation, reflecting the shared commitment of Pakistan and Kazakhstan to advancing higher education, research excellence, and innovation through sustained institutional collaboration.