Tashkent (TDI): Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif arrived in Uzbekistan on a two-day official visit to Uzbekistan on Tuesday.
During his visit, he is scheduled to hold meetings with Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and other high officials and sign important agreements and MoUs to strengthen bilateral cooperation in various sectors.
Looking back at the recent history of Uzbek-Pakistani cooperation, it is important to note that Pakistan was among the first countries to recognize Uzbekistan’s independence on December 20, 1991.
Diplomatic ties between the two nations were established on May 10, 1992.
Since then, Uzbekistan and Pakistan have maintained an active political dialogue based on mutual respect and common interests.
In recent years, there has been an intensification of high-level interactions and an increase in interstate contacts, leading to strategically important deals between the two countries.
Notably, following the high-level official visit to Uzbekistan on July 15-16, 2021, a Joint Declaration on the Establishment of a Strategic Partnership was inked, along with a substantial package of documents covering both traditional and emerging areas of collaboration.
On March 3-4, 2022, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev paid an official visit to Pakistan, during which the heads of the two nations inked a Joint Declaration on Further Steps to Enhance the Strategic Partnership between Uzbekistan and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan (IRP).
This trip and the accompanying business forum gave a powerful impetus to the development of bilateral ties, expanding areas of collaboration through the signing of about ten documents and agreements on the implementation of joint trade and investment projects.
The intensification of ties between the two nations in a bilateral format has contributed to strengthening mutual support within multilateral structures like the United Nations, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, the Economic Cooperation Organization, and others.
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In this context, it is important to note that in 2022, Prime Shehbaz Sharif also visited Uzbekistan to participate in the SCO summit, which took place in Samarkand on September 15-16.
During the visit, he met with the President of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev.
At the meeting, they discussed the entire spectrum of bilateral cooperation, primarily in the trade, economic, investment, and transport-transit sectors.
The meetings of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev with Pakistani executives at the summits of global organizations not only reaffirmed the commitment to previously reached deal, but also served as a clear demonstration of the emphasis on the sustainability and long-term nature of the Uzbek-Pakistani strategic partnership.
Inter-parliamentary cooperation plays a major role in strengthening political dialogue.
Within the framework of parliamentary diplomacy, friendship groups have been set up in the representative bodies of both nations, contributing to the development of legislative initiatives aimed at expanding and strengthening bilateral interaction in the trade, economic, and cultural-humanitarian spheres.
Meetings, mutual visits, and participation in global events provide momentum to inter-parliamentary cooperation.
Relationships between the ministries and departments of the two countries are developing constructively, facilitating the prompt implementation of strategically important joint projects agreed upon at the highest level.
Therefore, to support political dialogue, the foreign ministries of both nations effectively utilize mechanisms for bilateral political consultations, the 8th round of which was held in Tashkent this month, as well as contacts at major international events.
Productive interdepartmental collaboration has also been established in the fields of culture, education, business, transport and logistics, law enforcement, the fight against terrorism and transnational crime, and other sectors.
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Uzbekistan and Pakistan, being important actors in their regions and possessing considerable resources and human potential, are actively utilizing opportunities to increase trade, economic, and investment collaboration.
Stable dynamics of cooperation development in this area was observed despite the Covid pandemic.
In particular, in 2021, the volume of bilateral trade surged by 50 percent.
In 2024, mutual trade volumes crossed $400 million, approaching the goals set by the heads of the two countries to bring this figure to $500 million in the near future and to $1 billion in the long term.
An important step was the signing of the Preferential Trade Agreement, inked during the official visit of Uzbek President to Pakistan in March 2022, which allows for the reduction of tariff barriers and stimulates bilateral trade.
At the interregional level, direct contacts between business-circles are actively developing, which contributes to the establishment of joint ventures in sectors such as the textile industry, agriculture, pharmaceuticals, and information technology.
Today, there are 130 joint ventures operating in Uzbekistan with Pakistani capital participation.
Investment projects in partnership with large Pakistani firms such as “Novugen Pharma”, “UP-Match”, “Pak-Merit Bleaching”, “Diamond Group”, and others have been implemented in Syrdarya, Tashkent and Namangan regions, as well as the city of Tashkent.
A testament to the high level of mutual interest in expanding economic collaboration and collaboration is the recent intensification of dialogue between the business communities of the two nations.
In particular, over the past two years, about ten bilateral business forums, B2B and G2B meetings, industrial and agricultural exhibitions, and other events aimed at developing connections and joint projects have taken place in Uzbekistan and Pakistan.
Thus, the Uzbek-Pakistani Business Forum, which included the “Made in Pakistan” exhibition and the transport and logistics forum, was arranged in Tashkent in June 2024.
More than 110 leading Pakistani companies in the textile, chemical, pharmaceutical, medical, household and electrical industries, the production of building materials, and agricultural products presented their products at the exhibition.
As a result of this business forum, trade and investment deals worth about $180 million were signed.
The transport and logistics forum discussed the intensification of transportation and cargo flows between the two regions and nations, the creation of “green corridors” at border customs points for companies providing services for foreign trade operations, and the digitalization of customs clearance processes.
In November 2024, the 9th session of the Uzbekistan-Pakistan Intergovernmental Commission on Trade, Economic, and Scientific-Technical Cooperation held in Tashkent, during which the Uzbek-Pakistani Business Forum, as well as G2B and B2B meetings were conducted.
At the end of November 2024, a business forum was arranged in Lahore, Pakistan, with the participation of over 60 entrepreneurs working in the textile industry, leather and wool processing, pharmaceuticals, IT, household appliance manufacturing, food production, the paper industry, and other sectors.
During the event, representatives of the Uzbek companies “Artel” and “Imzo” made presentations of their products and investment proposals.
A deal was reached with Pakistani partners on the production of household appliances and their export to third nations.
The beginning of the current year has also been marked by large-scale events.
In February 2025, the “Made in Uzbekistan” National Industrial Exhibition was held in Lahore, Pakistan, with the participation of a representative delegation of over 150 entrepreneurs from different sectors, headed by the leadership of the Ministry of Investment, Industry and Trade of Uzbekistan, as well as more than 500 representatives of the Pakistani business community.
During the three days of the exhibition, over 80 thousand visitors learned about national industrial products and collaboration opportunities.
Read More: Pakistan, Uzbekistan Boost Economic Cooperation
More than 500 B2B meetings were arranged within the framework of the event, where the conclusion of new trade deals and the implementation of joint projects were discussed.
As a result of this exhibition, 181 contracts were inked for a total amount of over $500 million.
Of these, $263 million are export trade contracts, and $236 million are import contracts.
One of the key factors influencing the development of economic collaboration between the two countries is transport interconnectivity.
Therefore, both Uzbekistan and Pakistan pay special attention to the development of transport and logistics collaboration.
Cultural and humanitarian cooperation between the two nations is developing on a solid foundation of historical relations between the Uzbek and Pakistani peoples, common cultural traditions of the Great Silk Road, Islamic civilization, and the legacy of historical figures – Zahir-ud-din Muhammad Babur and his dynasty members.
Today, the foundation is being laid for the creation of a feature film dedicated to the life of Babur, a native of the Uzbek land who established a great empire, including the territory of modern-day Pakistan.
Since 1991, the “Uzbekistan-Pakistan” Friendship Society has been active in Uzbekistan, regularly organizing cultural and scientific events and exchanges of delegations of scientists and cultural figures.
At the Tashkent State University of Oriental Studies, courses in Urdu language, literature, and the history of Pakistan have been taught for about 75 years, contributing to the strengthening of cultural relations between the two nations.
Projects to study the Uzbek language and history are currently being implemented in Pakistan.
Joint cultural events, festivals, exhibitions, and forums are regularly organized.
In February 2021, the Babur Heritage Center was inaugurated at Punjab University, where the life and legacy of the great ancestor are studied.
In turn, the Uzbek Language Center named after Alisher Navoi was opened at the University of Peshawar, whose activities promote Uzbek culture in Pakistan.
Tourism exchanges have intensified, facilitated by direct air links between the cities of the two nations.
There is a growing interest in the sacred sites and historical monuments of Uzbekistan in Pakistan.
In this regard, Uzbekistan Tourist Information Center was established in Islamabad in March 2019, and in 2020, Shaykh Muhammad Hassan Haseeb ur Rehman, the leader of the Naqshbandi order in Pakistan, was appointed as the Ambassador of Uzbekistan for pilgrimage tourism.
Intercultural dialogue is also characterized by high mutual respect and interest in the rich history and heritage of the two peoples.
Therefore, a permanent exhibition dedicated to the culture and history of Uzbekistan has been started at the Lok Virsa Museum of Folk and Traditional Heritage in Islamabad since 2022.
The exchange of cultural delegations has become dynamic, with delegations attending international events – exhibitions, tourism fairs, seminars, conferences, days of culture and cinema – held in both nations.
Pakistani musicians and singers participate in global music festivals in Uzbekistan – “Sharq Taronalari” in Samarkand, the art of maqom, and the art of bakhshi in the regions of our republic.
The delegation of Pakistan participated in global events held in 2024 on the occasion of the declaration of the city of Shakhrisabz as the tourist capital of the Economic Cooperation Organization.
In turn, at the international “Spring Festival” organized in Islamabad from April 22–24, 2024, Uzbekistan’s pavilion was showcased, providing visitors with a 3-day introduction to the country’s rich historical and cultural heritage, as well as its tourism potential.
Thus, it can be confidently stated that Uzbek-Pakistani ties continue to evolve dynamically, encompassing the political, economic, and cultural-humanitarian spheres.
The alignment of strategic interests, especially in the areas of regional security and transport and logistics collaboration, renders these ties both promising and mutually beneficial.
In this context, the trip of the Prime Minister of Pakistan to Uzbekistan will mark a major milestone in the advancement of political dialogue, the strengthening of economic relations, and the expansion of partnerships in key sectors, including trade, transport, energy, and security.
This trip will not only reaffirm the commitment of both Uzbekistan and Pakistan to reinforcing their strategic partnership but also open new avenues for long-term, mutually beneficial collaboration, contributing to the stability and development of the entire region.
