Pakistan, Uzbekistan eye $2b trade as ties enter new phase

ISLAMABAD - Uzbekistan and Pakistan have set a target of increasing bilateral trade to $2 billion over the next five years as the two countries expand economic, transport and strategic cooperation, Uzbek Ambassador to Pakistan Alisher Tukhtaev said on Tuesday. Speaking at a reception in Islamabad marking the 35th anniversary of Uzbekistan's independence, Ambassador Tukhtaev said relations between the two countries were going through 'one of the most active and successful periods' in their history. Federal Minister for Energy Sardar Awais Ahmad Khan Leghari attended the reception as chief guest, along with ministers, parliamentarians, ambassadors, high commissioners and other dignitaries. The ambassador said recent high-level exchanges had opened a new chapter in bilateral relations, particularly following Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's visit to Uzbekistan and President Shavkat Mirziyoyev's state visit to Pakistan in February. He said the establishment of the High-Level Council of Strategic Partnership had provided a strong framework for expanding cooperation, while 30 bilateral documents covering a range of sectors were signed during President Mirziyoyev's visit. Ambassador Tukhtaev said the friendship and trust between President Mirziyoyev and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif were the main driving force behind growing bilateral relations. He said the two leaders had met on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Bishkek a day earlier and reaffirmed their commitment to implementing existing agreements and further strengthening the strategic partnership. The ambassador also congratulated Pakistan on assuming the chairmanship of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation and Economic Cooperation Organisation, saying Uzbekistan was ready to work closely with Islamabad to promote regional cooperation, peace, stability and sustainable development. On economic relations, Ambassador Tukhtaev said the two countries had set an ambitious target of increasing bilateral trade to $2 billion within five years through greater business-to-business contacts, investment projects, trade houses, stronger banking relations and easier movement of goods. Air connectivity was also expanding rapidly. The ambassador said that while there were no direct flights between the two countries two years ago, regular passenger services now connected Tashkent with Islamabad and Lahore, while direct cargo flights had also been launched. With new routes, including flights to Karachi, the number of weekly flights was expected to reach nine by October 2026, further boosting business exchanges, tourism and people-to-people contacts, he said. Ambassador Tukhtaev described the proposed Uzbekistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan railway as perhaps the most important project for the future, saying it could become much more than a transport route. 'It can become a bridge between Central and South Asia,' the ambassador said, adding that the railway could connect markets, create jobs, increase trade and help turn the wider region into one of peace and shared prosperity. 'Pakistan has a special place in the foreign policy of Uzbekistan,' Ambassador Tukhtaev said. He said Uzbekistan regarded Pakistan not only as an important regional partner but also as a brotherly country with which it shared a common vision of peace, connectivity and development. The ambassador said the Uzbek Embassy would continue working closely with the government, parliament, business community, cultural organizations and people of Pakistan to translate the political will of the two countries' leaders into tangible results. Referring to Uzbekistan's domestic transformation, Ambassador Tukhtaev said the country had undergone major economic and social reforms under President Mirziyoyev over the past decade. He said Uzbekistan's poverty rate had fallen from 35 percent in 2017 to around four percent, while more than 650,000 families had become owners of modern homes. The number of university students had reached 1.6 million, alongside a major expansion in preschool, school and specialized education, he said. The ambassador said Uzbekistan was also investing in science, innovation and modern technology while preserving its Islamic and cultural heritage. He cited the Centre of Islamic Civilization in Tashkent and renewed memorial complexes dedicated to prominent Islamic scholars, including Imam al-Bukhari. The ambassador also thanked Pakistan for conferring Nishan-e-Pakistan, the country's highest civil honor, on President Mirziyoyev, describing it as a sincere sign of Pakistan's respect for the Uzbek president and the special friendship between the two nations. The reception, hosted by Ambassador Tukhtaev at the Mövenpick Hotel Islamabad, featured traditional Uzbek cuisine and performances by Uzbek musicians, singers and dancers. Concluding his remarks, the ambassador expressed hope that friendship between Pakistan and Uzbekistan would pass 'from generation to generation' and that the two countries would continue working together for peace, prosperity and regional development. Tags: pakistanuzbekistaneyetrade