{"id":15614,"date":"2025-02-27T04:25:03","date_gmt":"2025-02-27T04:25:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gsrra.com\/?p=15614"},"modified":"2025-02-27T04:25:05","modified_gmt":"2025-02-27T04:25:05","slug":"pakistan-and-uzbekistan-agree-to-expand-bilateral-trade-to-2bn","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gsrra.com\/?p=15614","title":{"rendered":"Pakistan and Uzbekistan agree to expand bilateral trade to $2bn"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"Prime
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is bein g presented with a guard of honour at the Tashkent Congress Centre in Uzbekistan\u2019s capital on Tuesday. \u2014 PID<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Prime
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev exchange a joint declaration in Tashkent, Uzbekistan on Tuesday. \u2014 PID<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Prime
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev hold delegation level talks in Tashkent, Uzbekistan on Tuesday. \u2014 PID<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Prime
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is bein g presented with a guard of honour at the Tashkent Congress Centre in Uzbekistan\u2019s capital on Tuesday. \u2014 PID<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Prime
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev exchange a joint declaration in Tashkent, Uzbekistan on Tuesday. \u2014 PID<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Prime
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev hold delegation level talks in Tashkent, Uzbekistan on Tuesday. \u2014 PID<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Prime
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is bein g presented with a guard of honour at the Tashkent Congress Centre in Uzbekistan\u2019s capital on Tuesday. \u2014 PID<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Pakistan and Uzbekistan agreed on Wednesday to expand bilateral trade to $2 billion as Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met with Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev in Tashkent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The development comes days after a similar agreement<\/a> to boost investments to $2bn was reached with Azerbaijan during the premier\u2019s official visit<\/a> there, which he concluded yesterday as he departed for Tashkent<\/a> on a two-day state visit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pakistan and Uzbekistan have strengthened ties through trade and economic cooperation. A $1 billion trade deal was signed<\/a> in 2023, and plans for further collaboration, including a roadmap for industrial cooperation, show the two sides\u2019 commitment to boosting regional connectivity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Earlier today, PM Shehbaz and President Mirziyoyev held a bilateral meeting, which was followed by the signing of several memorandums of understanding (MoUs) between the two countries in various areas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Addressing a joint press conference with PM Shehbaz, President Mirziyoyev said: \u201cWe came to the conclusions on different spheres and mutual trade turnover had exceeded $400 million and we have plans to increase that to $2bn.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He termed the negotiations between them \u201cvery fruitful\u201d, adding that there was a \u201cnew direction\u201d for future goals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The president said: \u201cThe modern state of Pakistan is our trusted partner, trusted by time, and a promising ally whose international reputation is steadily growing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201c[\u2026] Despite current global challenges, the honourable prime minister is carrying out tremendous work to ensure peace and stability, improve the living standards of the population and accelerate economic growth.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Congratulating the Pakistani government on those \u201cachievements\u201d, he noted that the relations between the two countries had been developing \u201cdynamically\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

President Mirziyoyev noted that joint ventures between Pakistan and Uzbekistan have reached 130 while trade houses had been opened in Karachi and Tashkent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAir travel has been launched between Tashkent and Lahore,\u201d he highlighted, adding that it was also agreed to open new routes<\/a>, including flights between Samarkand, Bukhara and Karachi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He stated that the intergovernmental commission was working effectively while \u201cpolitical consultations, business events and exhibitions of our national products have been successfully organised\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

President Mirziyoyev noted that a \u201clarge delegation of leading Pakistani\u201d had arrived in Tashkent, with Uzbek partners participating in meetings with them and holding dialogues on partnership agreements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Inviting Pakistani companies to work in his country, he said: \u201cI would like to also present to Pakistani companies what the conditions are in Uzbekistan and we are ready to create all the necessary conditions for them to come to Uzbekistan.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe confirm our shared commitment to strengthening the bonds of longstanding friendship and for the developing cooperation, we have signed important agreements,\u201d the Uzbekistan president affirmed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He also announced the visits of the head of Uzbekistan\u2019s central bank to Pakistan and his counterpart, the State Bank of Pakistan governor, to Tashkent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe are planning to increase trade turnover to $2bn and we will increase the industrial cooperation, develop transparent logistic connections, and create favourable conditions and incentives for the entrepreneurs,\u201d Mirziyoyev asserted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He noted discussions were held on \u201cpharmaceuticals, textiles, lead industry, and agriculture\u201d while PM Shehbaz also made proposals on the energy, geology, and mining spheres to \u201cdevelop those industries and have regional cooperation and access to other countries\u2019 markets\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Detailing other decisions made during their meeting, he said that a high-level strategic council would be established between the two nations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOnce in two months, we will have calls over mobile phones. Once a month, all ministries and relevant bodies, in an online format, will be reporting to us on the implementation of those instructions and measures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe did not have this kind of approach with [any] other countries,\u201d Mirziyoyev highlighted, adding that the strategic council would ensure the efficient implementation of those directives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He further vowed increased collaborations between the nations through people-to-people exchanges, cultural events, and festivals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The president also affirmed his diplomatic support for Pakistan\u2019s stance on \u201cAfghanistan\u2019s social development and resolving the Palestinian issue\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The president thanked the premier for his \u201cwarm words\u201d for the Uzbek people and accepted PM Shehbaz\u2019s invitation to pay an official visit to Pakistan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mirziyoyev concluded his address with his well wishes for the upcoming month of Ramazan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In his address, PM Shehbaz stated that the two leaders had decided to cooperate in the field of mine and minerals, adding that the \u201cpotential of investing in each other\u2019s economic zones\u201d was also discussed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI find you a very valuable friend and a very very positive partner,\u201d the premier stated as he appreciated the Uzbek president\u2019s \u201cpivotal role\u201d in strengthening bilateral ties.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe will expand our tourism [\u2026] take people from Peshawar, Quetta, Karachi and Lahore to Bukhara and Samarkand,\u201d he said, adding people from Uzbekistan\u2019s cities would also be able to visit Pakistan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The prime minister noted Mirziyoyev\u2019s achievements in decreasing Uzbekistan\u2019s level of poverty and increasing foreign investments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThrough untiring efforts, Pakistan will find its lost place in the comity of nations, but only through hard work,\u201d PM Shehbaz stressed, highlighting the decline in Pakistan\u2019s inflation and interest rates, along with a rise in IT exports.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cLike the golden domes of Samarkand during sunrise, my dear brother [President Mirziyoyev], your warmth, hospitality and sincerity are shining brightly despite the snowfall,\u201d the premier said at the outset of his address.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He noted that Pakistan and Uzbekistan shared centuries-old bonds, while Pakistani students studied the Sufi saints of Samarkand in their school textbooks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/a>\u2018Detailed negotiations\u2019 held on joint railway project<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Meanwhile, talks on a planned railway link<\/a> between Pakistan and Uzbekistan that would traverse Afghanistan also progressed further as PM Shehbaz and President Mirziyoyev reaffirmed their commitment to the project.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The two countries had signed an agreement in July 2023 for the \u201cUzbekistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan (UAP) Railway project\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The premier said: \u201cWe are going to [\u2026] achieve jointly Trans-Afghan railway connectivity<\/a> which is going to be a game changer not only for Pakistan and Uzbekistan but in the entire region.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI know you are very committed to this project,\u201d he said, addressing the Uzbek president sitting next to him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Speaking earlier, President Mirziyoyev said the two leaders today held \u201cdetailed negotiations for the first time\u201d on the Trans-Afghan railway. \u201cWe shared the open challenges [\u2026] and concluded the solutions to those problems regarding the transport and the logistics.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mirziyoyev also announced the formation of a separation committee led by him and PM Shehbaz.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe know that this is our future,\u201d he said, explaining that high-speed railway routes would increase bilateral trade and the travel of people between the countries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThere were some problems that we were not raising openly but today we had open discussions, we raised them openly,\u201d the Uzbek president said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/a>MoUs signed on news, youth, travel<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Multiple MoUs to bolster cooperation were signed between Pakistan and Uzbekistan at a ceremony attended by PM Shehbaz and President Mirziyoyev.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The MoUs and agreements included an MoU between Tashkent and Lahore, a cooperation agreement between news agencies, an inter-agency agreement on youth affairs, and an agreement on cooperation in science and technology, state-run Radio Pakistan<\/em> reported<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It added that the two countries also signed agreements in the fields of visa-free travel for diplomatic passport holders, military intelligence, internal affairs, professional and technical training, as well as diplomats\u2019 training.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The two leaders also signed a joint declaration by their countries and the protocol for establishing the Pakistan-Uzbekistan High-Level Strategic Council.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Earlier today, PM Shehbaz was welcomed by President Mirziyoyev at the Tashkent Congress Centre, where he was given a formal welcome reception.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"
Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev introduces Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to his delegation upon the premier\u2019s arrival at the Tashkent Congress Centre in Uzbekistan\u2019s capital on Tuesday. \u2014 PID<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The national anthems of Pakistan and Uzbekistan were played, followed by the guard of honour by smartly turned-out contingents of the Uzbek armed forces, which the prime minister reviewed along with President Mirziyoyev.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

PM Shehbaz and President Mirziyoyev then introduced their respective delegations to each other before proceeding to the bilateral meeting and delegation-level talks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The prime minister is accompanied by a high-level delegation, including Deputy PM Ishaq Dar, Commerce Minister Jam Kamal Khan, Investment and Privatization Minister Abdul Aleem Khan, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, and Special Assistant to PM Tariq Fatemi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Later today, the premier would visit the Techno Park in Tashkent to observe Uzbekistan\u2019s construction industry, according to APP<\/a><\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He is also set to address the Pakistan-Uzbekistan Business Forum, where \u201cleading businessmen from both sides\u201d would participate and hold B2B meetings to further enhance bilateral trade.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

PM Shehbaz\u2019s visit \u201cunderscores Pakistan\u2019s commitment to further strengthen its ties with Uzbekistan, through fostering greater economic collaboration and exploring new avenues of partnership, as part of the strategic vision for regional integration and economic prosperity\u201d, the FO had noted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cPakistan and Uzbekistan are bound together by common bonds of history, culture, religion, and their aspirations for peace and development,\u201d it asserted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/a>PM looks forward to \u2018mutually advantageous cooperation\u2019<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Upon his arrival in the capital of Tashkent yesterday, PM Shehbaz was received by his Uzbek counterpart Abdulla Nigmatovich Aripov.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWheels down in Uzbekistan. Deeply touched by the grand reception at the airport and the warm welcome by my dear brother Prime Minister Abdullah Aripov,\u201d the premier had said on X<\/a> after his arrival there yesterday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cUzbekistan being the crown of Central Asia, breathes history through the grandeur of its ancient cities, timeless art, and magnificent architecture. Looking forward to my engagements to enhance our common desire to strengthen these bonds of friendship through trade, investment and mutually advantageous cooperation.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"
Uzbekistan\u2019s Prime Minister Abdulla Nigmatovich Aripov welcomes PM Shehbaz Sharif upon his arrival in Tashkent, Uzbekistan on Feb 25, 2025. \u2014 PID<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

PM Shehbaz then visited the Indepe\u00adnd\u00ade\u00adnce Monu\u00adment in Tash\u00adkent, where he laid a floral wreath and was briefed about the 3000-year-old history of the Uzbek nation and its heroes, Radio Pakistan<\/em> reported<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The visit underscored the shared historical and cultural ties be\u00adt\u00adween Pakistan and Uzb\u00adekistan while reaffir\u00adming the commitment to deepening bilateral relations, said a statement<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The premier expressed his admiration for Uzbekistan\u2019s progress and resilience, drawing parallels with Pakistan\u2019s struggle for independence and development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In his remarks, PM Shehbaz had said, \u201cThe Independence Monument stands as a testament to the courage and determination of the Uzbek people. Pakistan and Uzbekistan share a common vision for peace, prosperity, and regional connectivity. This visit is a reminder of our shared values and the need to work together for a brighter future.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Earlier this month, Ambassador Tukhtayev had met with the Quetta Chamber of Commerce and Industry, where he stressed that Uzbek investors were keen to explore<\/a> investment opportunities in Pakistan, particularly Balochistan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Last month, the envoy had announced<\/a> his government\u2019s plan to introduce a new direct flight route between Tashkent and Karachi this year, describing it as a \u201csignificant step to foster closer ties between the two nations\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In May last year, the foreign ministers of both countries met, underscoring their countries\u2019 commitment to the swift completion of a planned railway link<\/a> that would traverse Afghanistan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The bilateral trade between Pakistan and Uzbekistan grew<\/a> substantially over the last few years, from $27m in 2019-20 to $126m in 2022-23.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Reference Link:- https:\/\/www.dawn.com\/news\/1894417\/pakistan-and-uzbekistan-agree-to-expand-bilateral-trade-to-2bn<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Pakistan and Uzbekistan agreed on Wednesday to expand bilateral trade to $2 billion as Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met with Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev in Tashkent. The development comes days after a similar agreement to boost investments to $2bn was reached with Azerbaijan during the premier\u2019s official visit there, which he concluded yesterday as he departed for Tashkent on a two-day […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":15616,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[2],"tags":[1832,282,1818,3345,2836,424,132,105,157,36,13426,1069,5191],"class_list":["post-15614","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sample-category","tag-bilateral-relations","tag-bri","tag-brotherhood","tag-collaboration","tag-cooperation","tag-cpec-2","tag-economy","tag-geopolitics-2","tag-investment","tag-pakistan","tag-pakistan-and-uzbekistan-agree-to-expand-bilateral-trade-to-2bn","tag-trade","tag-uzbekistan"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/gsrra.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15614","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/gsrra.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/gsrra.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gsrra.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gsrra.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=15614"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/gsrra.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15614\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":15617,"href":"https:\/\/gsrra.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15614\/revisions\/15617"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gsrra.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/15616"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/gsrra.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=15614"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gsrra.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=15614"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gsrra.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=15614"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}