Islamabad (TDI): Federal Minister for Petroleum Ali Pervaiz Malik and Ambassador of Uzbekistan Alisher Tukhtaev held a meeting on Friday to explore avenues for enhancing cooperation in the energy sector, particularly in oil and gas exploration.
During the meeting, Minister Malik reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to expanding bilateral energy ties, describing Uzbekistan as a valuable partner in regional connectivity and resource development.
To boost coordination on energy-related matters, Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik recommended the creation of a joint working group dedicated to the energy sector.
The idea, he said, was to ensure that future collaboration moves forward in a focused and structured way.
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Uzbekistan’s Ambassador Alisher Tukhtaev appreciated the suggestion and described Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s recent trip to Tashkent as a significant step toward deepening ties between the two countries, both economically and strategically.
The ambassador expressed Uzbekistan’s desire to grow trade with Pakistan beyond the $2 billion mark.
He said there are solid prospects for cooperation in the energy sector.
The envoy mentioned areas like joint efforts in oil and gas exploration, technical training for Pakistani workers in Uzbekistan, and possible collaboration on producing synthetic fuels and polymers.
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He stressed the need for building a long-term working relationship, saying both sides could learn from one another through joint research and shared technical experience.
The meeting also reflected how the region’s priorities are changing, with Pakistan and Uzbekistan both aiming to strengthen energy independence by relying more on mutual cooperation than outside sources.
Farkhund Yousafzai is an Associate Editor at The Diplomatic Insight.
