The joint economic cooperation program was developed during the visit of Uzbekistan's President Shavkat Mirziyoyev to Islamabad, as reported by the press service of the head of state.
One of the key topics of discussion during Mirziyoyev's meeting with Pakistan's Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif was trade and economic interactions. Both sides noted that this visit coincides with the anniversary of the five-year establishment of strategic partnership between their countries.
During this period, the volume of mutual trade increased by 2.5 times, reaching about $500 million, and the number of joint projects nearly tripled. In the coming years, the parties plan to raise trade turnover to $2 billion. To achieve this, it was decided to significantly expand the range of goods under the preferential trade agreement and to make more effective use of Uzbekistan's trade houses located in Lahore and Karachi.
Additionally, an agreement was reached to establish an Uzbek-Pakistani Business Council, which should help strengthen ties between businessmen of the two countries.
Significant attention was paid to issues of transport and logistics development. The necessity of accelerating the implementation of the Trans-Afghan railway construction project and promoting the transport corridor Pakistan — China — Kyrgyzstan — Uzbekistan was emphasized.
It was noted at the meeting that cooperation at the regional level could become an important factor for strengthening economic ties. In this regard, the creation of a Joint Forum of Regions is planned in the near future, with the first meeting to be held this year in the Khorezm region.
Other aspects of the partnership were also discussed, including the organization of systematic cooperation in the field of pilgrimage tourism. To bring the cultures of the two nations closer, it was decided to hold Uzbekistan Culture Weeks and Uzbek Film Days in Pakistan. Additionally, a joint cultural center dedicated to the heritage of the Baburid dynasty will be opened in Lahore.
Mirziyoyev expressed gratitude to Sharif for naming one of the streets in Islamabad "Tashkent." In turn, the head of Uzbekistan announced the establishment of a park in the capital of Pakistan in honor of the outstanding statesman and poet Zahirdin Muhammad Babur, which will be a gift for the Pakistani people on Independence Day.
During Mirziyoyev's visit to Islamabad, he was also awarded the title of Honorary Doctor and Professor of the National University of Science and Technology of Pakistan.
As a result of the high-level meeting, a Joint Declaration was signed, along with about 30 documents concerning key areas of cooperation.
Among the signed documents:
- Agreement on cooperation in port services and the provision of discounts;
- Agreement on joint activities in the mining industry and geology;
- Agreement on cooperation in digital and information technologies;
- Agreement on radiation and nuclear safety;
- Agreement on combating corruption;
- "Roadmap" between the defense ministries of the two countries.
