Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev met on Monday to explore ways to enhance bilateral trade, investment, and regional connectivity. Their discussions included progress on the Uzbekistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan railway project, a vital link expected to strengthen ties between Central and South Asia.
The meeting took place on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Council of Heads of State gathering in Bishkek. Sharif extended congratulations to Mirziyoyev and the people of Uzbekistan on the 35th anniversary of their independence. He also recalled the Uzbek president’s state visit to Pakistan in February, which, along with the inaugural High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council meeting, had invigorated the strategic partnership between the two nations.
The prime minister emphasized the importance of promptly implementing leadership-level decisions, particularly in areas such as trade, investment, connectivity, and economic collaboration. He reaffirmed the mutual objective of raising bilateral trade to $2 billion by 2029, urging effective execution of the expanded Preferential Trade Agreement, increased business-to-business interactions, and the establishment of more joint ventures.
Regional connectivity was a key focus, with Sharif highlighting the transformative potential of the proposed Uzbekistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan railway. This project would provide Uzbekistan with access to Pakistan’s seaports, enhancing trade routes significantly. He called for swift advancement on the joint feasibility study and encouraged greater utilization of existing multimodal transport corridors. Pakistan expressed readiness to facilitate Uzbek trade through its ports and transport infrastructure.
The leaders also discussed broadening cooperation across various sectors including industry, agriculture, pharmaceuticals, textiles, mining, digital technology, education, culture, defence, and security. Sharif supported enhancing air connectivity, particularly the launch of direct flights between Tashkent and Karachi.
Additionally, the prime minister appreciated Uzbekistan’s backing of Pakistan’s upcoming chairmanship of the SCO Council of Heads of State. He expressed Islamabad’s intention to collaborate closely with Tashkent on regional security, connectivity, trade, and sustainable development. Continued cooperation through the Economic Cooperation Organisation (ECO) and other multilateral platforms was also emphasized.
Sharif reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to deepening its strategic partnership with Uzbekistan, aiming to convert strong political relations into tangible economic benefits for both countries’ populations. The meeting was attended by Commerce Minister Jam Kamal Khan, Communications Minister Abdul Aleem Khan, and Information Minister Attaullah Tarar.
