Pakistan, Kazakhstan sign MoUs to boost sports cooperation

ISLAMABAD, Feb 03 (APP): Pakistan and Kazakhstan on Tuesday signed multiple Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) aimed at strengthening bilateral cooperation in sports, leadership, and youth empowerment initiatives, underscoring a significant step toward deepening people-to-people ties between the two countries.
The agreements include three MoUs covering boxing, kabaddi, and chess, along with a comprehensive roadmap for the promotion and development of sports cooperation.
The initiatives are expected to facilitate talent exchange, capacity building, and joint training programmes, particularly for young athletes.
The MoUs were signed by World’s Top Pugilist Amir Khan, Secretary Inter Provincial Coordination (IPC) Mohyuddin Ahmad Wani, Director General Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) Yasir Pirzada, Muhammad Sarwar Rana, Honorary Secretary, Pakistan Kabaddi Federation, Pakistan Boxing Federation (PBF) President Nasir Tung, Hanif Qureshi, President, Chess Federation of Pakistan with the Kazakhstan delegation. PSB Deputy Director Shahid Islam and other officials were also present on the occasion.
Speaking at the MoU signing ceremony, Mohyuddin Ahmad Wani expressed satisfaction over hosting the Kazakh delegation and welcomed the growing partnership.
He said the agreements would open new avenues for Pakistani youth to engage in a wide range of healthy and competitive activities.
“We are extremely happy to host the Kazakhstan delegation and wish them a pleasant stay in Pakistan. These MoUs will bring forward many young talents. Our youth need sports like MMA, chess, boxing, and other healthy activities to excel. This initiative brings all sports under one roof,” he remarked.
Wani emphasized that the collaboration goes beyond sports alone, describing it as an ecosystem of shared growth and friendship. “This is not only about sports, it is about building an ecosystem. These MoUs are a project of friendship between the two countries, and the youth will benefit immensely by learning new skills,” he added.
Kazakhstan’s Minister of Science and Higher Education Sayasat Nurbek, while addressing the ceremony, said his country had arrived with a large delegation, reflecting the importance it places on cooperation with Pakistan.
He highlighted Kazakhstan’s strong boxing heritage and described the presence of world-renowned boxer Amir Khan as a privilege.
“Being a boxing nation and having one of the world’s top pugilist Amir Khan, here is an honour. He is a true hero not only in Pakistan but also in Kazakhstan,” he said.
The Kazakh minister noted that Pakistan’s young generation holds immense potential if provided with proper guidance and opportunities.
He also disclosed that the President of Kazakhstan is expected to visit Pakistan, during which discussions on broader infrastructure cooperation would take place.
He stressed the need for a regional approach in a rapidly changing world, noting that Pakistan and Kazakhstan share deep historical, cultural, religious, and social bonds.
On the occasion, the Dostyq Sports Centre was inaugurated at the Amir Khan Boxing Complex. “Dostyq means friendship, and it represents the foundation of our shared culture, faith, and heritage,” he said.
Amir Khan welcomed the initiative, calling it a visionary step toward taking boxing in Pakistan to the next level. He thanked the Pakistan Army and the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) for their continued support, stating that the collaboration would provide the much-needed push for sports development in the country.