Kazakhstan a Muslim state, situated in the geographic center of Eurasia, has been well known since the times of the Silk Road. Today, just as in that distant epoch, it combines features that are remarkable for their contrasts: East and West, modernism and archaism, impetuous youth and the staid wisdom of ancestors. Even its geography is full of contrasts. The perpetually snow-capped mountains adjoin the Great steppe; the regions of rivers and picturesque lakes-the so-called "eyes of the earth" are surrounded by neighboring desert. Such variety and contrast gives rise to the possibility of sensing such fundamental cultural ideas as eternity and beauty. However, only a deep familiarity with Kazakh nomadic civilization allows one to go beyond sensing to understand how these fundamental ideas are philosophically thought out, formulated and artistically realized in traditional Kazakh culture.

A Country With Multiple Attractions
Those who enjoy history, ethnography and simply educational tourism will be interested in the diversity of historical places and preserved ethnical cultures mausoleums of Aisha-bibi, Karakhar and Babadzhi-Hatun in Taraz are some of the examples.

Those who prefer sports and health improving vacations have a unique opportunity to mountain ski, climb, and ice-scate at mountain ski resort Shymbulak (Almaty region). There are vast hunting grounds in Western Kazakhstan, as well as fishing and water sports. The resorts of Kokshetau, Bayan-Aul, Mujaldy provide health treatment, and Kurgaldzhino and Naurzum would be interesting for Scientific tourism. One of the largest lakes in the world-Balhash, is located in the Central Kazakhstan as well as unique Karkaralinsk mountain-forest oasis.

Foreign Relations of Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan has good relations with all of its neighbors. Kazakhstan is a member of the United Nations, Organization on security and cooperation in Europe, and North Atlantic Cooperation Council. It also is an active participant in NATO's Partnership for Peace program. Kazakhstan is also a member of the Commonwealth of Independent States and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.

Traveling Options in Kazakhstan

	AlR: There are frequent flights from Almaty to Astana, Chimkent (four times a day), Dzhambul, Pavlodar, Semipalatinsk and Ust-Kamenogorsk. Semipalatinsk has a domestic airport with flights to Almaty, Chimkent, Dzhambul, and Ust-Kamenogorsk. However, it also receives flights from Bishkek, Krasnoyarsk, Moscow (four times a week), Omsk, Tashkent and Tomsk.
	RIVER: River trips can be taken in Semipalatinsk on the River Irtysh.
	RAIL: There are two Turksib trains leaving Chimkent daily, one to Tashkent (Uzbekistan) and the other to Novosibirsk (Russian Federation), stopping at destinations in between. The cost of rail travel in kazakhstan is minimal in comparison with Western Europe and there are regular connections between all the main centres. Queues at stations to buy a ticket can be long and passengers should bring their own food and drink for the journey.
	ROAD: Traffic drives on the right. There is a reasonable network of roads in Kazakhstan connecting all the towns and regional centres. Petrol supplies are reasonably reliable in comparison with other Central Asian republics.
	BUS: There are regular bus connections between all the main cities of Kazakhstan.
	TAXI: These are available in all Kazakh cities.

Education in Kazakhstan
In recent years, the Government of Kazakhstan has been showing a particular concern for education. The top leadership of the country is perfectly aware of the fact that in the age of the global, scientific and technological revolution and knowledge form the most important element of the strategy of social development. It is impossible to build an independent competitive economy (which is the objective of Kazakhstan) without having trained people in the country. The intellectual potential capable of tackling this task on the basis of modern high technologies. The basic features of the education reform in the Republic of Kazakhstan can be presented in the following ways:

	The structure of educational facilities is being transformed under consideration of the condition and needs of a market economy.
	New educational structures are going to be setup.
	The approach to the transformation of diverse stages of education is differentiated to a considerable extent, much more attention being paid to the reformation of its higher stages.
	The economic base of education is changing.
	International student exchange is being actively supported by the Government of Kazakhstan.
	At present about 40000 foreign students from 43 countries of the world (U.S.A, Canada, Pakistan, Europe & Middle East) study at 51 educational establishments of the Republic of Kazakhstan. 500-700 Pakistani students get admitted in the various institutions of the Republic of Kazakhstan every year. Most of them study at the medical institution of the Republic.