PAKISTAN and Uzbekistan, two brotherly Muslim countries, have always maintained exemplary and friendly relations.

These relations are based on mutual understanding and strong cultural and religious ties. Both countries are committed to enhancing closer relations in various fields, including people-to-people contacts, cultural exchanges, trade, investment and energy. The recent visit of Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev to Pakistan is a welcome development, as it has improved bilateral relations between the two countries.

With a historical presence on the ancient Silk Road, Pakistan and Uzbekistan are now eager to establish a strong presence together in the region’s emerging economic projects. President Shavkat Mirziyoyev was awarded Pakistan’s highest civilian honour, the Nishan-e-Pakistan, which reflects a bright future for Pakistan-Uzbek relations. The signing of 28 memoranda of understanding and agreements worth $3.4 billion across various sectors, including railways, security, preferential trade, climate change and religious tourism, marks significant milestones. Uzbekistan has offered Pakistani traders a 10-year tax exemption and set a target to increase bilateral trade volume to $2 billion over the next five years. From 2017 to 2025, the trade volume between Uzbekistan and Pakistan has risen from approximately $30 million to about $500 million, showing more than a fifteen-fold increase in less than a decade. Undoubtedly, both countries are determined to expand trade and investment.

During his visit to Pakistan, President Mirziyoyev also praised........

© Pakistan Observer