PM Shehbaz congratulates Kazakhstan president on successful constitutional referendum

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday spoke with Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev over the phone, congratulating him on the success of what the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) described as a "historic constitutional referendum."

According to a statement issued by the PMO, the two leaders held a "warm and cordial call" during which PM Shehbaz extended his congratulations to President Tokayev on the outcome of the referendum.

The prime minister noted that the "overwhelming turnout and support for the new constitution reflected the trust and confidence of the people of Kazakhstan in President Tokayev's visionary leadership and reform" agenda, the PMO statement said.

Kazakhstan's constitutional referendum

On Monday, Kazakhstan held a nationwide constitutional referendum in which 87.15 per cent of voters cast their ballots in favour of adopting a new constitution, according to the Central Election Commission of Kazakhstan.

The newly approved constitution introduces significant changes to the country's governance structure. It streamlines the national Parliament and recreates the office of vice president, a position that had been abolished in 1996. Under the new constitutional framework, the president is granted the authority to appoint the vice president, along with a number of other key officials.

Discussion on regional developments

During the telephone conversation, both leaders also exchanged views on regional developments, with a particular focus on the situation in Afghanistan.

The call underscores the diplomatic ties between Pakistan and Kazakhstan, with PM Shehbaz using the occasion to reaffirm engagement with the Central Asian nation on matters of mutual interest and regional significance.

The constitutional changes in Kazakhstan represent a notable shift in the country's political landscape, with the overwhelming public support in the referendum signalling broad endorsement of President Tokayev's reform programme. The recreation of the vice presidency after nearly three decades marks a return to a governance model that the country had previously moved away from.

Pakistan and Kazakhstan have maintained bilateral relations across multiple domains, and the telephone exchange between the two leaders highlights continued high-level engagement between Islamabad and Astana on both bilateral matters and broader regional issues, including the evolving situation in neighbouring Afghanistan.