Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev have agreed to expedite the Trans-Afghan Railway Project, reaffirming their shared commitment to enhancing regional integration and connectivity.
The agreement came during a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the 17th Economic Cooperation Organisation (ECO) Summit on Friday.
According to a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office, both leaders emphasised the strategic importance of the railway project, which aims to link Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Uzbekistan, creating a vital trade and transit corridor through Central and South Asia.
To move the project forward, the two leaders agreed on high-level ministerial visits to Tashkent and Islamabad to finalise the necessary arrangements and agreements.
The discussions also reflected strong satisfaction with the ongoing cooperation between Pakistan and Uzbekistan on both bilateral and multilateral platforms. Highlighting the deep cultural, historical, and civilizational ties between the two nations, PM Shehbaz and President Mirziyoyev pledged to build on this foundation to strengthen cooperation across multiple domains.
These include trade and investment, energy, regional security, connectivity, culture, and people-to-people exchanges. The two leaders also shared views on regional and global challenges, underscoring the need for collaborative approaches in an increasingly interconnected world.