Tashkent (Agencies): Pakistan and Uzbekistan have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening their strategic partnership, boosting trade, and enhancing regional connectivity during Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s official visit to Uzbekistan.
According to a joint declaration issued on Wednesday, PM Shehbaz Sharif and Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev expressed satisfaction with the progress in bilateral ties since the establishment of diplomatic relations 33 years ago. Both leaders discussed ways to elevate cooperation across various sectors, pledging to support each other’s sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity.
A key focus of the discussions was enhancing trade and economic collaboration, with both sides agreeing to increase bilateral trade to $2 billion over the next four years. This will be achieved through the successful implementation of the Transit Trade Agreement (2021) and the Preferential Trade Agreement (2023), alongside investments in each other’s Special Economic Zones and business-to-business cooperation.
Connectivity was highlighted as a crucial driver for regional integration, with the two leaders emphasizing the strategic importance of the Uzbekistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan (UAP) corridor. They reaffirmed their commitment to the Trans-Afghanistan Railway Project and the development of multimodal transport routes to facilitate smoother trade and transit.
In the international arena, both sides pledged closer coordination within global and regional organizations, including the United Nations, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. They also voiced support for global peace initiatives and mutual backing for candidatures in international bodies.
Discussing regional security, the two leaders stressed the need for a peaceful and stable Afghanistan that effectively counters terrorism. They also reiterated their support for the Palestinian cause, advocating for the establishment of an independent Palestinian state based on pre-1967 borders.
Beyond trade and security, Pakistan and Uzbekistan agreed to deepen cooperation in education, science, healthcare, tourism, information technology, and sports. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif extended an invitation to President Mirziyoyev to visit Pakistan, which was accepted, with the visit to be scheduled through diplomatic channels.