Islamabad, 15 November 2023 (TDI): Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Dr. Jamshid Khodjaev Abdukhakomovich, on Tuesday called on Interim Prime Minister of Pakistan Anwar-UL-Haq Kakar in Islamabad. 

The Deputy Prime Minister is leading a 7-member delegation for an official visit to Pakistan. The Uzbek delegation includes Minister of Transport, Ilkhom Makhkamov Rustamovich along with Deputy Minister of Investment, Industry, and Trade, Badriddin Abidov. 

Additionally, the delegation also comprises Deputy Foreign Minister, Bobur Usmanov, Deputy Chairman of State Security Service, Maj. General Farukh Mukhtarov and Ambassador of Uzbekistan in Islamabad Oybek Arif Usmanov. 

Prime Minister Kakar welcomed the Deputy Prime Minister along with his delegation to Pakistan. 

He also recalled his recent meeting with the President of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyovev, on his visit to Uzbekistan to participate in the 16th Summit of ECO held in Tashkent. 

Prime Minister expressed his satisfaction with the pace of bilateral engagements between Pakistan and Uzbekistan specifically in sectors of trade, defense, and connectivity. 

He also appreciated the First Trilateral Meeting of Commerce Ministers in Islamabad. The meeting held in Islamabad consisted of Commerce Ministers from Pakistan, Uzbekistan, and Afghanistan. 

A trilateral working group to discuss customs, logistics, trade promotion, tariffs, and TIR procedures was established during the meeting. 

The Interim Premier expressed his satisfaction at the outcome of the trilateral meeting and hoped that this Trilateral mechanism would boost trade relations between the three countries. 

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The prime minister highlighted the importance of people-to-people exchanges. He pointed out that easy visa procedures, improved banking channels, and reciprocal warehouse facilities are critical to further boost trade between both countries. 

He also hoped that the business community of both countries could achieve the bilateral trade target of USD 1 billion in a brief time. 

The Deputy Prime Minister expressed his gratitude for the warm reception extended to him and his delegation by the Prime Minister. 

He informed the Prime Minister about productive engagements with the business community of Pakistan including the banking and logistics sectors. 

He also expressed that both sides would comply with the timely completion of the Uzbekistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan Railway Project.