Pakistan, Uzbekistan trade set to hit $2bn

February 06, 2026 (MLN): Pakistan and Uzbekistan have agreed to enhance bilateral trade to $2bn within the next five years, following a high-level visit by the President of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, to Islamabad.

An official welcome ceremony was held at the Prime Minister’s House, followed by one-on-one meetings and delegation-level talks.

During the discussions, both sides highlighted the historically strong ties between the two countries, rooted in shared cultural, religious, and historical connections, as reported by APP.

Talks focused on trade, investment, regional connectivity, education, and cultural exchanges, while also covering regional and global issues of mutual interest.

The High-Level Strategic Consultative Council (HLSCC), established during Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s visit to Tashkent in February 2025, was officially operationalized to ensure effective implementation of leadership-level decisions.

Both sides committed to following through on the roadmap agreed upon during that visit.

On regional connectivity, ongoing initiatives to strengthen road, rail, air, and maritime linkages were appreciated.

The Uzbekistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan (UAP) Railway Project was highlighted as a key driver of trade and connectivity between Central Asia and Pakistani ports.

To further expand cooperation, a protocol was signed to enhance bilateral trade and economic collaboration, under which a joint working group will be established to identify priority sectors and formulate an actionable plan.

Beyond trade, 29 agreements and MoUs were exchanged across sectors including mining, energy, defence, tourism, health, IT, agriculture, research, maritime cooperation, education, and sports.

As part of the visit, Tashkent Street and Babur Park were inaugurated in Islamabad to commemorate the enduring friendship between the two nations.

In recognition of his efforts to strengthen Pakistan-Uzbekistan relations and promote regional peace, President Mirziyoyev was conferred an honorary Doctorate of Philosophy and a Certificate of Honorary Professor from the National University of Science and Technology.

Both sides expressed confidence that the agreements and joint declarations would open new avenues for cooperation.

President Mirziyoyev thanked Pakistan for the hospitality and invited the Prime Minister for the next round of the Pakistan-Uzbekistan High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council in Tashkent next year.

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