On February 26, President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Prime Minister of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan Shehbaz Sharif held negotiations in Tashkent.
The leaders agreed to establish the Supreme Council of Strategic Partnership and hold its first meeting next year.
The negotiations focused on expanding trade and economic cooperation. It was noted that in 2024, bilateral trade turnover exceeded $400 million and the number of joint enterprises reached 130.
The parties underlined the importance of implementing coordinated measures for bringing the volume of bilateral trade to $2 billion.
They reviewed plans of leading Uzbek and Pakistani companies to implement cooperation projects in pharmaceuticals, electrical engineering, agrarian sector, agricultural machinery, geology and mineral resources, textile, leather and other industries.
The leaders of Uzbekistan and Pakistan paid special attention to strengthening transport connectivity and utilizing the transit potential.
It was noted that over the past few years the volume of cargo transportation through the multimodal corridor “Uzbekistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan” has increased fivefold.
To further increase the volume of cargo turnover, an agreement has been reached on establishing a joint transport and logistics company.
The importance of coordinating joint efforts for the promotion of the Trans-Afghan railroad construction project was stressed.
Mirziyoyev and Sharif also participated in the Uzbek-Pakistani business-forum.
In his speech, Mirziyoyev emphasized that Uzbekistan has become Pakistan’s largest trade partner in Central Asia. “Having huge potential, our economies can effectively complement each other,” said the Uzbek president.
He mentioned the beginning of construction of a railway connecting China with Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan, adding that in the future, this strategic railway may have a link to the ports of Pakistan, which will significantly increase mutual trade and investment.
Photo: president.uz
