Pakistan and Uzbekistan on Wednesday signed a string of agreements including enhancing bilateral trade to $2 billion and set up a strategic council as Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif held in-depth talks with President Shavkat Mirziyoyev in Tashkent, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.
The development came during PM Shehbaz Sharif’s official visit to Uzbekistan.
Following their detailed talks in Tashkent, PM Shehbaz Sharif and President Mirziyoyeh witnessed a ceremony during which a number of memorandums of understanding (MoUs) were inked.
Multiple accords signed
Pakistan and Uzbekistan signed multiple accords to strengthen bilateral cooperation in the fields defence, technology, technical training and youth empowerment.
The documents were signed during the two-day visit of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to Uzbekistan.
Following their bilateral meeting and the delegation-level talks, Prime Minister Shehbaz and President Mirziyoyev witnessed the ceremony as the officials from both sides exchanged the pre-signed documents of the agreements and MoUs for cooperation in different fields.
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar and Uzbek Foreign Minister Bakhtiyor Saidov exchanged the documents of agreements in the fields of visa-free travel for diplomatic passport holders, military intelligence, internal affairs, professional and technical training and training of diplomats.
Another inter-government agreement was signed between both sides to collaborate in the fields of scientific research, technology, and innovation. Commerce Minister Jam Kamal Khan and Uzbek Deputy Prime Minister Khodjayev Jamshid exchanged the documents.
Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar and Director General of the National Information Agency of Uzbekistan Kuchimov Abdusaid exchanged a document of news cooperation agreement between the news agencies of both sides.
DPM Ishaq Dar and Mayor of Tashkent Shavkat Umurzakov Buranovich exchanged the documents of an MoU between Lahore and Tashkent.
Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaulah Tarar and Director Youth Affairs Agency of Uzbekistan Sa’dullayev Alisher exchanged documents of MoU between Pakistan’s Prime Minister’s Youth Programme and the Government of Uzbekistan on youth affairs.
Later, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and President Mirziyoyev signed a joint declaration on the outcomes of the former’s visit and also the protocols on the establishment of High Level Strategic Cooperation Council.
Joint presser
Later addressing a joint presser, President Mirziyoyev said that during their meeting they came to the conclusions on different spheres and mutual trade turnover had exceeded 400 million and “we have plans to increase that to $2 billion.”
The president said the modern state of Pakistan is our trusted partner, trusted by time, and a promising ally whose international reputation is steadily growing. “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,” he added.
President Mirziyoyev termed the negotiations between them “very fruitful”, adding there was a “new direction” for them for future goals. The relations between the two countries had been developing “dynamically”, he added.
President Mirziyoyev noted that joint ventures between Pakistan and Uzbekistan have reached 130 while trade houses had been opened in Karachi and Tashkent. “Air travel has been launched between Tashkent and Lahore,” he said, adding it was also agreed to open new routes, including flights between Samarkand, Bukhara and Karachi.
He stated that the intergovernmental commission was working effectively while “political consultations, business events and exhibitions of our national products have been successfully organised”.
President Mirziyoyev noted that a large delegation of leading Pakistani businessmen had arrived in Tashkent, with Uzbek partners participating in meetings with them and holding dialogues on partnership agreements.
Inviting Pakistani companies to work in his country, he said: “I 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.”
He also announced the visits of the head of Uzbekistan’s central bank to Pakistan and his counterpart, the State Bank of Pakistan governor, to Tashkent. “We are planning to increase trade turnover to $2 billion and we will increase the industrial cooperation, develop transparent logistic connections, and create favourable conditions and incentives for the entrepreneurs,” he added.
Divulging other decisions made during their meeting, he said that a high-level strategic council would be established between the two nations. “Once 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. We did not have this kind of approach with other countries,” Mirziyoyev maintained, adding the strategic council would ensure the efficient implementation of those directives.
Addressing the media briefing, PM Shehbaz reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to working with Uzbekistan on a planned railway link that would traverse Afghanistan and connect the two countries. “We are going to achieve jointly Trans-Afghan railway connectivity which is going to be a game-changer not only for Pakistan and Uzbekistan but for the entire region.
“I know you are very committed to this project,” he said, addressing the Uzbek president sitting next to him. “We have discussed and decided to cooperate in the field of mine and minerals,” Shehbaz said and added the potential of investing in each other’s economic zones was also discussed.
Guard of honour
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif was accorded a guard of honour as he arrived at the Tashkent Congress Centre on Wednesday to meet Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and hold the delegation-level talks, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.
As the prime minister arrived at the venue of the formal welcome reception, the Uzbek president warmly received him. The national anthems of Pakistan and Uzbekistan were played, which followed the guard of honour by a smartly-turned-out contingent of the Uzbek armed forces which the prime minister reviewed along with President Mirziyoyev.
Later, both President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif introduced their respective delegations to each other before proceeding to the bilateral meeting and the delegation-level talks.
The discussions will focus on enhancing cooperation between Uzbekistan and Pakistan in regional connectivity, trade, investment, energy, defense, security, regional stability, and education.
The prime minister who arrived in Tashkent on Tuesday on a two-day official visit, is accompanied by 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 to PM Tariq Fatemi.
Earlier, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has expressed Pakistan's desire to strengthen fraternal bonds with Uzbekistan through trade, investment and mutually advantageous cooperation.
In a post on his X handle after arriving in Tashkent, the Prime Minister said he looks forward to his engagements in Uzbekistan.
The Prime Minister said Uzbekistan is the crown of Central Asia which breathes history through the grandeur of its culture, art, ancient cites, and architecture.