Pakistan, Uzbekistan set $2bn trade target, strengthen bilateral ties

March 13, 2025 (MLN): Pakistan and Uzbekistan have agreed to enhance bilateral trade, with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif emphasizing the need to devise a roadmap to achieve a trade volume of $2 billion.

This discussion took place when the Ambassador of Uzbekistan, Alisher Tukhtaev, paid a courtesy call on the Prime Minister at the Prime Minister's House today.

The Prime Minister particularly highlighted Pakistan’s interest in enhancing cooperation with Uzbekistan in mining & minerals, railways (including the Trans Afghan Railways project), SEZs, banking, tourism, culture, and renewable energy.

The Prime Minister expressed his complete satisfaction with the excellent progress made between the two countries during his visit, according to the press release issued today.

This included the formation of a High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council and the signing of several important agreements and MOUs in various fields.

He conveyed his warm greetings, through the Ambassador, to Shavkat Mirziyoyev, President of Uzbekistan, and expressed his deepest gratitude for the warmth and hospitality extended to him and his delegation during their recent visit to Tashkent last month.

The Prime Minister said that, upon his return from Tashkent, he had tasked the concerned Ministers of relevant areas to ensure prompt follow-up on the decisions taken by the two leaders.

The Ambassador thanked the Prime Minister for his kind words.

He stated that President Shavkat Mirziyoyev was fully committed to strengthening Uzbekistan’s ties with Pakistan and transforming their excellent political relations into mutually beneficial economic ties.

He also shared that President Mirziyoyev had accepted the Prime Minister’s invitation to undertake an official visit to Pakistan later this year, the dates for which would be worked out between the two sides.