(Asghar Ali Mubarak)
Uzbekistan (TNS) Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif has arrived in Uzbekistan on a two-day official visit to enhance bilateral relations. Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif is expected to sign important economic agreements during his historic visit to Uzbekistan. Prime Minister Abdullah Aripov, Uzbek Foreign Minister Bakhtiar Saidov, Tashkent Mayor Shaukat Umarzakov, Uzbek Ambassador to Pakistan Alisher Takhtayev and Pakistani Ambassador to Uzbekistan Ahmed Farooq, among other high-ranking diplomatic and government officials, welcomed Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif. It should be noted that in 2023, Pakistan and Uzbekistan signed an agreement worth one billion dollars to increase bilateral trade. A statement issued by the Ministry of Economic Affairs said that the eighth meeting of the Pakistan-Uzbekistan Intergovernmental Commission for Trade-Economic and Scientific-Technical Cooperation (IGC) was held in Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan, where the agreement was signed. It was further stated that ‘the most important outcome of the IGC is the signing of a trade agreement worth one billion dollars, which will promote the exchange of products and specific services and will also facilitate the process of trade’.
In January 2025, Uzbekistan had announced plans to introduce a new direct flight route between Uzbekistan and Karachi this year, calling it an important step to promote closer relations between the two countries.
The Uzbek ambassador made this announcement while addressing members of the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP), the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) and the business community during his official visit to Karachi from January 2 to 4.
Recall that Uzbekistan had announced plans to introduce a new direct flight route between Uzbekistan and Karachi this year, calling it an important step to promote closer relations between the two countries. The Uzbek ambassador made the announcement while addressing members of the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP), Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) and the business community during his official visit to Karachi from January 2 to 4. He highlighted the historical and brotherly relations between Uzbekistan and Pakistan, which are based on shared cultural and religious affinities. Stressing on the ongoing efforts to enhance economic cooperation and strategic partnership, the Uzbek ambassador said that our two nations are closer than ever thanks to the fulfillment of the long-awaited vision of regional connectivity. He said that Uzbekistan implemented a simplified visa regime for Pakistani citizens in September 2023, facilitating business and tourist travel, a move that, along with the recently launched direct flights between Tashkent and Lahore, underscores Uzbekistan’s commitment to promoting people-to-people contacts and fostering mutual understanding. Highlighting the trade potential, the Uzbek ambassador said that bilateral trade between Uzbekistan and Pakistan has tripled in the last five years, from $122 million in 2019 to $387 million in 2023. He also lauded the success of the “Made in Pakistan” single-country exhibition held in Tashkent last June, which provided an invaluable platform for businessmen from both countries to sign new trade and investment agreements. Building on this momentum, he announced plans for a “Made in Uzbekistan” industrial exhibition in Karachi later this year, expressing confidence that it would further strengthen economic ties. The Uzbek ambassador invited a KCCI delegation to visit Uzbekistan and explore investment opportunities in regions such as Bukhara, Sardarya, Surkhondarya and Kashkadarya. He assured the Uzbek Embassy of its full support in facilitating Government-to-Government (G2G) and Business-to-Business (B2B) meetings during such visits and said that Uzbekistan offers a safe, conducive, and open environment for investment. He urged Pakistani businessmen to take advantage of opportunities in various sectors where Sindh excels. He also welcomed the idea of holding B2B meetings along with business delegation visits to realize trade and investment potential. The visit of the Uzbek Ambassador highlighted the commitment of both countries to advance regional connectivity, strengthen economic partnership and promote deeper bilateral relations. Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif arrived in Tashkent on a 2-day visit at the special invitation of Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Muhammad Ishaq Dar, Minister for Commerce Jam Kamal Khan, Minister for Investment and Privatization Abdul Aleem Khan, Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar and Special Assistant Tariq Fatemi are part of the Pakistani delegation to Uzbekistan. The Prime Minister will visit the Independence Monument in Tashkent, where the Prime Minister will pay tribute to the great historical figures of Uzbekistan by laying a wreath and express his best wishes for the construction and development of Uzbekistan and the zealous and hardworking Uzbek people. On this occasion, the Prime Minister will be given a tour of the carvings of 3,000 years of Uzbekistan’s history built on the monument and will be briefed.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will also hold a bilateral meeting with Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev during the visit.In which discussions will be held on further promoting cooperation between Uzbekistan and Pakistan in the fields of regional connectivity, trade, investment, energy, defense, security, regional stability and education. The leaders will also discuss global and regional issues of mutual interest. After the meeting, memorandums of understanding and agreements on bilateral cooperation between Pakistan and Uzbekistan will also be signed. To enhance cooperation between the business and investment communities of Pakistan and Uzbekistan, a Pakistan-Uzbekistan Business Forum will be held in Tashkent, in which Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif will also address. The Prime Minister will also visit the Techno-Park established in Tashkent to observe the construction industry of Uzbekistan. It should be noted that on February 24, 2023, Pakistan and Uzbekistan signed an agreement worth one billion dollars to increase bilateral trade. A statement issued by the Ministry of Economic Affairs said that the eighth meeting of the Pakistan-Uzbekistan Intergovernmental Commission for Trade-Economic and Scientific-Technical Cooperation (IGC) was held in Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan, where the agreement was signed. The statement said that the two countries signed an agreement to promote the exchange of products and services. The meeting focused on bilateral economic cooperation in various sectors, including trade, banking, industries and production, investment, textile industry, energy, oil and natural resources, transport, communications, agriculture, tourism and culture. The Ministry of Economic Affairs said in a statement that the Pakistani delegation, led by Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, signed trade agreements, which included the sectors of trade, banking, industry, energy and agriculture. The meeting was jointly chaired by Finance Minister Ishaq Dar and Uzbekistan’s Minister of Investment, Industry and Trade Laziz Kudratov. The statement said that the continuous efforts by Uzbekistan to promote closer relations between the two countries, especially the improvement in the sectors of trade, transport, banking and agriculture, were appreciated. The meeting was further stated that ‘the most important outcome of the IGC is the signing of a trade agreement worth one billion dollars, which will promote the exchange of products and specific services and will also facilitate the process of trade’. Ishaq Dar appreciated the keen interest of the Uzbek authorities in this matter and strengthening relations, appreciating the earlier improvements in the field of transport and trade. He welcomed the Uzbek officials to explore opportunities in the fields of automobiles, information technology and natural minerals.
Both sides emphasized the vast opportunities for investment cooperation and bilateral trade, moreover, the IGC also acknowledged the importance of close cooperation for sustainable development through technology, innovation and economic partnership. The report stated that the commission expressed satisfaction with the volume of bilateral trade between the two countries and expressed its desire for further increase in the future, Uzbekistan also expressed its commitment to bilateral coordination through various aspects. The meeting was also attended by Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Tariq Bajwa, Special Assistant on Finance Zulfiqar Younis, Federal Secretary Economic Affairs Division Dr. Kazim Niaz and representatives of other ministries. The session was attended by Minister for Investment, Industry and Trade Laziz Kudratov, Minister for Sports and Youth Hamarayev Ubek Namatovich, Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce of Uzbekistan Ikramov Idham Ilhamovich. The two countries had agreed to hold the Pakistan-Uzbekistan IGC meeting in Pakistan next year.
Uzbekistan announced plans to introduce a new direct flight route between Uzbekistan and Karachi this year, calling it an important step to promote closer relations between the two countries.
The Uzbek ambassador made the announcement while addressing members of the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP), Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) and the business community during his official visit to Karachi from January 2 to 4. He highlighted the historical and brotherly relations between Uzbekistan and Pakistan, which are based on shared cultural and religious affinities.
The Uzbek ambassador, while emphasizing the ongoing efforts to enhance economic cooperation and strategic partnership, said that our two nations are closer than ever thanks to the fulfillment of the long-awaited vision of regional connectivity. He said that Uzbekistan implemented a simplified visa regime for Pakistani citizens in September 2023, facilitating business and tourist travel, a move that, along with the recently launched direct flights between Tashkent and Lahore, underscores Uzbekistan’s commitment to promoting people-to-people contacts and fostering mutual understanding. Highlighting the trade potential, the Uzbek ambassador said that bilateral trade between Uzbekistan and Pakistan has tripled in the last five years, from $122 million in 2019 to $387 million in 2023. He also appreciated the success of the “Made in Pakistan” single-country exhibition held in Tashkent last June, which provided an invaluable platform for businessmen from both countries to sign new trade and investment agreements.
