Pakistan, Uzbekistan to boost tourism ties along Silk Route

September 04, 2025 (MLN):  Uzbekistan and Pakistan are set to deepen cooperation in the tourism sector, with both sides viewing stronger air connectivity, cultural exchanges, and joint ventures as key to reviving centuries-old Silk Route ties.

The partnership aims to boost regional trade, economic integration, and people-to-people contact, as APP reported.

Ambassador of Uzbekistan to Pakistan, Alisher Tukhtaev, highlighted these prospects while addressing the opening of the Uzbekistan Tourism and Cultural Show “Uzbekistan: the Pearl of the Silk Road.”

The event was also addressed by Sardar Yasir Ilyas Khan, Coordinator to the Prime Minister of Pakistan on Tourism, and Aftab ur Rehman Rana, Managing Director of Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation.

The envoy said the cultural show reflects the growing friendship and partnership between Uzbekistan and Pakistan, two nations bound by centuries of shared history, religion, culture, and traditions.

He noted that Uzbekistan, located at the heart of the Silk Road, is home to world-famous ancient cities such as Samarkand, Bukhara, Khiva, Termez, and Kokand all UNESCO World Heritage sites that once served as centres of Islamic learning, spirituality, and culture.

Inviting Pakistani tour operators, investors, and business leaders to collaborate, Tukhtaev proposed joint travel packages, hospitality projects, and cultural events.

He said Uzbekistan warmly welcomes initiatives in hotel construction, transport services, and creative industries, adding that together, Central and South Asia could emerge as one of the most attractive interconnected tourism regions in the world.

The ambassador emphasized the importance of direct air connectivity, pointing out that Uzbekistan Airways currently operates two direct flights per week from Tashkent to Lahore and one weekly flight to Islamabad, with plans to expand to other major Pakistani cities. These flights, he said, will serve as “true bridges of friendship, trade, and cooperation.”

He further underlined Uzbekistan’s ongoing reforms in the tourism sector, including restoration of historical monuments, modernization of infrastructure, and promotion of new directions such as pilgrimage tourism, eco-tourism, adventure travel, medical tourism, and MICE-tourism.

Highlighting special potential for ziyarat tourism, he said Uzbekistan is home to many sacred sites and mausoleums of revered Islamic scholars and Sufi saints, including Imam al-Bukhari and Bahouddin Naqshband.

“Tourism is not only about visiting beautiful places but also about building trust, friendship, and partnership,” Tukhtaev remarked.

He envisioned thousands of Pakistani tourists exploring Samarkand and Khiva, while Uzbek travellers discover Lahore, Karachi, and Hunza Valley, strengthening bilateral ties and opening doors for greater cultural cooperation.

The envoy concluded by saying that the Uzbekistan Tourism and Cultural Show is just a glimpse into the country’s hospitality and traditions.

With strong political will, growing air connectivity, and the warmth of friendship, he said, the future of Uzbekistan–Pakistan tourism relations will be “stronger, deeper, and brighter.”

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