PM Shehbaz Sharif and Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev discuss trade, investment, connectivity, direct flights and regional cooperation in Bishkek.
BISHKEK: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to further strengthening its strategic partnership with Uzbekistan, with a focus on expanding trade, investment, connectivity and economic cooperation.
He made the remarks during a meeting with Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev in Bishkek, where both leaders were attending the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Council of Heads of State meeting.
Shehbaz stressed the need to translate strong political ties between Pakistan and Uzbekistan into tangible economic benefits for the people of both countries. He called for timely implementation of decisions reached by the two governments, particularly in trade, investment, connectivity and economic cooperation.
Pakistan and Uzbekistan have set a joint target of increasing bilateral trade to $2 billion by 2029. The prime minister said stronger engagement between businesses in the two countries would be essential to achieving the target.
He also called for effective implementation of the expanded Preferential Trade Agreement and encouraged companies from both countries to pursue mutually beneficial joint ventures.
Regional connectivity was another key issue discussed during the meeting. Shehbaz highlighted the strategic importance of the Uzbekistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan railway project, which could provide Uzbekistan access to Pakistan’s seaports and strengthen transport and trade links between Central and South Asia.
The prime minister stressed the need for early progress on the project’s joint feasibility study and called for greater use of existing multimodal transport routes. He said Pakistan was ready to facilitate Uzbek trade through its ports and transport infrastructure.
The two leaders also reviewed opportunities to expand cooperation in industry, agriculture, pharmaceuticals, textiles, mining, digital technology, education and culture. Defence and security cooperation were also discussed.
Shehbaz welcomed progress toward improving air connectivity, particularly efforts to establish direct flights between Tashkent and Karachi.
He appreciated Uzbekistan’s support for Pakistan’s upcoming chairmanship of the SCO Council of Heads of State and expressed Islamabad’s desire to work closely with Tashkent on regional security, connectivity, trade and sustainable development.
The leaders also discussed continued coordination through the Economic Cooperation Organization and other international forums.
During the meeting, Shehbaz congratulated President Mirziyoyev and the people of Uzbekistan on the country’s 35th Independence Day.
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