High-level Uzbekistan–Pakistan talks held

On February 5, President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Prime Minister of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan Shehbaz Sharif held talks in a restricted format in Islamabad, followed by the first meeting of the High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council. The press service of the Uzbek leader reported this.

At the beginning of the meeting, President Mirziyoyev congratulated the prime minister on the upcoming holy month of Ramadan and Pakistan Day.

The sides held in-depth discussions on practical aspects of further expanding and strengthening Uzbekistan–Pakistan strategic partnership and multifaceted cooperation, in line with agreements reached at the highest level.

It was noted with satisfaction that bilateral relations have gained strong momentum in recent years. Political dialogue has intensified, while inter-parliamentary and interagency exchanges are developing dynamically.

By the end of last year, bilateral trade turnover reached nearly $500 million. About 230 enterprises with Pakistani capital are currently operating in Uzbekistan. The number of direct flights between the two countries has increased, and interbank correspondent relations continue to strengthen.

Cooperation projects in textiles, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, agriculture, and other sectors are being implemented successfully.

The sides welcomed the results of political consultations and the meeting of the Intergovernmental Commission held ahead of the visit.

An exhibition of Uzbek industrial products is being held as part of the visit.

It was emphasized that the first meeting of the Coordinating Committee of the foreign ministries of the two countries should be held in Tashkent in the near future.

The parties agreed to establish the Uzbekistan–Pakistan Business Council to promote long-term cooperation between business communities.

A target was set to increase mutual trade to $2 billion in the near future. Decisions were made to further expand the range of goods covered by the Preferential Trade Agreement, broaden the list of phytosanitary permits for Uzbek agricultural products, and make more active use of Uzbekistan’s trade houses in Lahore and Karachi.

In preparation for the visit, a portfolio of projects worth nearly $3.5 billion was formed in agriculture, electrical engineering, geology, pharmaceuticals, light industry, food processing, and other sectors.

Special attention was paid to the development of transport and logistics ties. The importance of accelerating the implementation of the Trans-Afghan railway project and developing the Pakistan–China–Kyrgyzstan–Uzbekistan transport corridor was emphasized.

Interregional cooperation was identified as one of the key drivers of economic partnership between the two countries.

The parties agreed to establish the Uzbekistan–Pakistan Interregional Forum and proposed holding its first meeting this year in the Khorezm region.

Issues related to establishing systematic cooperation in pilgrimage tourism were discussed separately. To strengthen people-to-people ties, the sides agreed to hold Weeks of Uzbek Culture and Days of Uzbek Cinema in Pakistan this year.

President Mirziyoyev also proposed establishing a joint cultural center in Lahore to promote the heritage of the Baburid dynasty.

The talks included an exchange of views on current international and regional issues, with both sides expressing a strong commitment to continued close cooperation within multilateral frameworks.

At the conclusion of the talks, President Mirziyoyev invited Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to pay a return visit to Uzbekistan.

Earlier, it was reported that President Mirziyoyev visited the headquarters of Global Industrial and Defence Solutions in Pakistan, where he met with Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff and Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, Field Marshal Asim Munir, and received Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Ishaq Dar. A formal welcoming ceremony for the Uzbek president was also held at the residence of the Prime Minister of Pakistan.