Latest news with #Kyrgyz
Business Recorder
19 hours ago
- Business
- Business Recorder
Kyrgyz Deputy PM explores maritime collaboration opportunities
KARACHI: A high-level Kyrgyz delegation led by Deputy Prime Minister Edil Baisalov visited the Karachi Port Trust (KPT) on Tuesday to explore potential avenues of cooperation in Pakistan's maritime sector. During the visit, the delegation received a detailed briefing on KPT's infrastructure, facilities, and ongoing development projects, including port expansion and real estate initiatives. The session was chaired by Transition Management Committee (TMC) member Abdullah Zaki and attended by KPT's senior and middle management officials. Deputy Prime Minister Baisalov expressed keen interest in Karachi Port's development plans, particularly projects such as the Edible Oil & Chemical Terminal, Clean Bulk Cargo Terminal, LNG Terminal, and the proposed Maritime Business District. He offered to establish joint ventures between the two countries, highlighting sectors such as energy, infrastructure, agriculture, tourism, education, and IT as promising areas for collaboration. KPT officials also briefed the delegation about the port authority's upcoming ferry service project aimed at promoting maritime tourism and the Blue Economy. Brig. Muhammad Younis, General Manager of Real Estate Development at KPT, highlighted the Maritime Business District initiative, which will cater to businesses involved in maritime logistics, insurance, finance, and warehousing. Both sides discussed mutual opportunities to strengthen bilateral ties through maritime cooperation, with the Kyrgyz Deputy PM emphasizing a 'win-win' approach that could unlock new business potential for both nations. The delegation also toured the South Asia Pakistan Terminal (SAPT), where CEO CS Kim showcased the port's container handling operations through a live demonstration and 3D model presentation. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
France 24
2 days ago
- Health
- France 24
Kyrgyzstan struggles with deadly shortages of medicine
"Women are dying because of a lack of medicine," Ibrayeva, who is in her 50s, told AFP. In remission from breast cancer, Ibrayeva needs a hormone treatment called exemestane after having a mastectomy and her reproductive organs were removed. She said she "often" faces difficulties. "I order it from Turkey or Moscow, where my daughter lives," she said. "There are many medicines that are simply unavailable here. The patient has to look themselves and buy them." 'Meagre' supply of medicine Shortages, high prices and the poor quality of medicine affect many of the region's 80 million inhabitants. The five Central Asian countries are highly dependent on pharmaceutical imports and patients are often left to fend for themselves. There are often cases of expired or adulterated medicine such as the cough syrup imported from India which killed 69 children in Uzbekistan in 2023. The costs of high-quality medicine are often prohibitive. "Some people sell their homes, their livestock, get into debt just to survive," said Shairbu Saguynbayeva, a uterine cancer survivor. She created a centre called "Together to Live" in the Kyrgyz capital Bishkek which hosts women who have cancer, offering accommodation and help for treatment. "Here they can get organised. When someone is receiving chemotherapy, they fall ill, not every loved one can handle it," Saguynbayeva said. Women at the centre sew and sell traditional Kyrgyz ornaments -- funding the treatment of 37 patients since 2019. Saguynbayeva says she is grateful to the Kyrgyz state for "finally" starting to supply more medicine but says the quantity is still "meagre". One patient, Barakhat Saguyndykova, told AFP that she received "free anti-cancer medicine only three times between 2018 and 2025". At the National Oncology and Haematology Centre, doctor Ulanbek Turgunbaev said that sourcing medicine was "a very serious problem for patients" even though medicine supply has increased. He said the best way of reducing therapy costs was "early detection" of serious illnesses. 'Better to save a mother' Material deficits and a shortage of 5,000 health professionals in Kyrgyzstan mean that the most urgent needs have to be addressed first. President Sadyr Japarov has promised to eliminate corruption in the medical sector, which cost the health minister his job last winter. While medicine factories have finally been opened, the situation in the short term remains complicated. The Kyrgyz Chamber of Commerce and Industry said that "around 6,000 medicines could disappear from the market by 2026" because of the need to "re-register under the norms of the Eurasian Economic Union" -- a gathering of former Soviet republics including Kyrgyzstan. The government in 2023 created a state company called Kyrgyz Pharmacy which is supposed to centralise medicine requests and bring down prices, according to its head, Talant Sultanov. But the organisation has been under pressure because of a lack of results. Sultanov said he hoped medicine prices could be lowered "by signing more long-term agreements with suppliers through purchases grouped on a regional basis" with other Central Asian countries. Kyrgyz Pharmacy has promised steady supplies soon but many women in Bishkek are still waiting for medicine ordered through the company months ago. Recently a mother of three "died simply because she did not receive her medicine in time," Saguynbayeva said. "It is better to save a mother than to build orphanages," she said.
Arab News
2 days ago
- Health
- Arab News
Kyrgyzstan struggles with deadly shortages of medicine
BISHKEK: Like many people affected by serious illness in ex-Soviet Central Asia, Almagul Ibrayeva is having trouble finding medicine in her native Kyrgyzstan. 'Women are dying because of a lack of medicine,' Ibrayeva, who is in her 50s, told AFP. In remission from breast cancer, Ibrayeva needs a hormone treatment called exemestane after having a mastectomy and her reproductive organs were removed. She said she 'often' faces difficulties. 'I order it from Turkiye or Moscow, where my daughter lives,' she said. 'There are many medicines that are simply unavailable here. The patient has to look themselves and buy them.' Shortages, high prices and the poor quality of medicine affect many of the region's 80 million inhabitants. The five Central Asian countries are highly dependent on pharmaceutical imports and patients are often left to fend for themselves. There are often cases of expired or adulterated medicine such as the cough syrup imported from India which killed 69 children in Uzbekistan in 2023. The costs of high-quality medicine are often prohibitive. 'Some people sell their homes, their livestock, get into debt just to survive,' said Shairbu Saguynbayeva, a uterine cancer survivor. She created a center called 'Together to Live' in the Kyrgyz capital Bishkek which hosts women who have cancer, offering accommodation and help for treatment. 'Here they can get organized. When someone is receiving chemotherapy, they fall ill, not every loved one can handle it,' Saguynbayeva said. Women at the center sew and sell traditional Kyrgyz ornaments — funding the treatment of 37 patients since 2019. Saguynbayeva says she is grateful to the Kyrgyz state for 'finally' starting to supply more medicine but says the quantity is still 'meagre.' One patient, Barakhat Saguyndykova, told AFP that she received 'free anti-cancer medicine only three times between 2018 and 2025.' At the National Oncology and Haematology Center, doctor Ulanbek Turgunbaev said that sourcing medicine was 'a very serious problem for patients' even though medicine supply has increased. He said the best way of reducing therapy costs was 'early detection' of serious illnesses. Material deficits and a shortage of 5,000 health professionals in Kyrgyzstan mean that the most urgent needs have to be addressed first. President Sadyr Japarov has promised to eliminate corruption in the medical sector, which cost the health minister his job last winter. While medicine factories have finally been opened, the situation in the short term remains complicated. The Kyrgyz Chamber of Commerce and Industry said that 'around 6,000 medicines could disappear from the market by 2026' because of the need to 're-register under the norms of the Eurasian Economic Union' — a gathering of former Soviet republics including Kyrgyzstan. The government in 2023 created a state company called Kyrgyz Pharmacy which is supposed to centralize medicine requests and bring down prices, according to its head, Talant Sultanov. But the organization has been under pressure because of a lack of results. Sultanov said he hoped medicine prices could be lowered 'by signing more long-term agreements with suppliers through purchases grouped on a regional basis' with other Central Asian countries. Kyrgyz Pharmacy has promised steady supplies soon but many women in Bishkek are still waiting for medicine ordered through the company months ago. Recently a mother of three 'died simply because she did not receive her medicine in time,' Saguynbayeva said. 'It is better to save a mother than to build orphanages,' she said.
Express Tribune
2 days ago
- Business
- Express Tribune
Pakistan-Kyrgyzstan trade, investment forum held
Listen to article Atif Ikram Sheikh, President FPCCI, President ECO-CCI, and VP CACCI, welcomed a high-profile Kyrgyz trade delegation to Pakistan. The visiting delegation included senior parliamentarians, diplomats, businessmen, and key stakeholders. The Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) hosted the Pakistan-Kyrgyzstan Trade & Investment Forum at its head office in Karachi on Tuesday, amid growing interest from both countries' business communities, according to a statement. Sheikh expressed satisfaction over the outcome of the recent Pakistan-Kyrgyzstan Inter-Governmental Commission, which agreed to increase bilateral trade from the current $16 million to $100 million. He noted that the present trade volume is well below the two countries' true potential. The chief guest, Edil Baisalove, Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of Kyrgyz Republic, told Pakistani businessmen that Kyrgyzstan is undergoing rapid industrialisation. He said this presents numerous opportunities for joint ventures, investments, and trade cooperation between the two nations. Kylychbek Sultan, Kyrgyz Ambassador to Pakistan, said both countries are working to establish new trade routes to create a feasible and enabling environment for the bilateral trade to grow. Saquib Fayyaz Magoon, SVP FPCCI, stressed that the shortest route from Chinese city of Kashgar to Kyrgyzstan is about 200 km; and Pakistan is also linked with this province through CPEC; whereas two Kyrgyz passes of Torugart and Erkeshtam should be utilised for establishing linkages to the warm waters of Gwadar port. Magoon recommended holding reciprocal single-country exhibitions and regular trade delegation exchanges. He urged the immediate removal of non-tariff barriers (NTMs and NTBs) and closer coordination between FPCCI and Kyrgyzstan's Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCI-KG).
Business Recorder
2 days ago
- Business
- Business Recorder
FPCCI welcomes high-level Kyrgyz trade delegation
KARACHI: Atif Ikram Sheikh, President FPCCI; President ECO-CCI and VP CACCI, has welcomed the high-profile Kyrgyz trade delegation in Pakistan; comprising of senior parliamentarians, diplomats, businessmen and other prominent stakeholders. It is pertinent to note that FPCCI organized Pakistan - Kyrgyzstan Trade & Investment Forum at its Head Office, Federation, Karachi, on Tuesday amidst increasing interest of trade & industry. Atif Ikram Sheikh expressed his satisfaction that the recently held inter-governmental commission between Pakistan and Kyrgyzstan has decided to enhance bilateral trade from the current $16 million to $100 million; as the current level is way below the true potential. The chief guest of the forum was Edil Baisalove, Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of Kyrgyz Republic. He apprised the Pakistani businessmen and industrialists that Kyrgyz Republic is undergoing rapid industrialization and it is opening up enormous avenues for joint ventures, investments, trade and economic cooperation between the two countries. Kylychbek Sultan, Ambassador of Kyrgyz Republic in Pakistan, informed that Pakistan and Kyrgyz Republic are working on establishing new trade routes to create a feasible and enabling environment for the bilateral trade to grow. Saquib Fayyaz Magoon, SVP FPCCI, stressed that the shortest route from Chinese city of Kashgar to Kyrgyzstan is about 200 km; and, Pakistan is also linked with this province through CPEC; whereas, two Kyrgyz passes of Torugart and Erkeshtam should be utilized for establishing linkages to the warm waters of Gwadar port. He maintained that single country exhibitions on reciprocal basis must be arranged to showcase the goods and services for trade along with frequent exchange of trade delegations. He called upon immediate removal of all trade barriers NTMs/NTBs to boost trade and commerce. Additionally, close coordination between national chambers i.e. FPCCI and CCI-KG is vital. Abdul Mohamin Khan, VP FPCCI & Regional Chairman for Sindh Region, presented Pakistan's case for ease of doing business in the country as the government has introduced several business-friendly reforms: (i) streamlined company registration and digital tax filing system (ii) 100% foreign ownership allowed in many sectors of Pakistan's economy (iii) Special Economic Zones (SEZs) with tax holidays, duty-free imports and simplified regulations have been set up. Aman Paracha, VP FPCCI, said that the apex will endeavour to materialize the points of discussion taken up in the trade & investment forum through follow-up with our counterpart chamber and stakeholders in the business community. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
