Exploring the Roots of Friendship: Pakistan’s PM Visit to Uzbekistan
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s visit to Uzbekistan on February 25, 2025, underscores the deep-rooted and historic ties between the two nations. His meeting with President Shavkat Mirziyoyev focused on expanding economic cooperation, strategic collaboration, and regional connectivity. The visit marked another significant milestone in Pakistan-Uzbekistan relations, setting the stage for stronger diplomatic and economic ties.
Strengthening Bilateral Relations
Following high-level discussions, both leaders signed a Joint Declaration and Protocol on the establishment of a bilateral High Council for Strategic Partnership. This initiative aims to further develop and strengthen Uzbek-Pakistani relations.
In 2024, two-way trade exceeded $400 million, joint ventures reached 130, trading houses were opened in Karachi and Tashkent, and direct flights between Tashkent and Lahore resumed. The leaders emphasized their commitment to increasing trade volume to $2 billion, outlining a roadmap that includes extending the list of goods under the Preferential Trade Treaty, simplifying customs procedures, integrating electronic trading platforms, and developing interbank settlements.
The MoUs included an agreement between Tashkent and Lahore, a cooperation framework between national news agencies, an inter-agency agreement on youth affairs, and an agreement on science and technology collaboration. Additionally, both countries signed agreements related to visa-free travel for diplomatic passport holders, military intelligence sharing, internal affairs, professional and technical training, and the training of diplomats.
Both countries agreed to expand inter-parliamentary exchanges, strengthen educational cooperation, and promote cultural engagements to foster stronger people-to-people connections. These efforts aim to deepen mutual understanding and long-term collaboration.
President Shavkat Mirziyoyev praised Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s proactive approach in translating bilateral discussions into tangible progress. Both nations reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening inter-parliamentary exchanges, enhancing educational cooperation, and promoting cultural interactions.
These initiatives aim to foster deeper people-to-people connections and mutual understanding between the two nations.
Expanding Trade and Economic Cooperation
Trade between Pakistan and Uzbekistan has seen a steady increase, rising from $27 million in 2019-20 to $126 million in 2022-23. A $1 billion trade deal was signed in 2023, highlighting the growing economic partnership between the two nations. In 2024, trade turnover reached $404 million, with both countries actively working on increasing this figure in the coming years.
During their meeting, PM Shehbaz and President Mirziyoyev discussed enhancing regional connectivity, trade, tourism, energy, and cultural cooperation. They reaffirmed their commitment to implementing the Transit Trade Agreement (2021) and the Preferential Trade Agreement (2023), promoting investments in special economic zones, and fostering collaboration between business communities.
President Shavkat Mirziyoyev invited Pakistani companies to invest in Uzbekistan, assuring them of a conducive business environment. The two countries have made notable progress in trade facilitation, including signing a bilateral Transit Trade Agreement (UPTTA) and a Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA), which covers 17 trade items.
At the Pakistan-Uzbekistan Business Forum, leading business leaders from both countries held B2B meetings to further economic cooperation. President Mirziyoyev invited Pakistani businesses to explore investment opportunities in Uzbekistan, pledging to provide a conducive business environment. Recent agreements also include the launch of direct flights between Tashkent and Karachi to enhance connectivity and trade.
Defense and Regional Security Cooperation
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif emphasized the importance of a peaceful and stable Afghanistan for regional security. At a joint press conference with President Mirziyoyev in Tashkent, he urged the Afghan regime to prevent militant groups from using its territory to launch attacks on any country, including Pakistan. Both leaders acknowledged the role of security cooperation in combating terrorism and fostering regional stability.
Recognizing the mutual benefits of closer collaboration, Pakistan and Uzbekistan committed to leveraging platforms such as the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) to strengthen regional connectivity and economic integration. The two countries reiterated their support for joint security initiatives and counter-terrorism measures aimed at ensuring stability in the region.
Regional Connectivity
Pakistan is positioning itself as a crucial trade and transit hub for landlocked Central Asian countries, connecting them to global markets. Diplomatic engagements and economic initiatives between Pakistan and Central Asian republics have seen a significant increase in recent years. A major highlight of Prime Minister Shehbaz’s visit was the detailed negotiations on the Uzbekistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan (UAP) Railway project.
Both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to advancing the Trans-Afghan Railway project, recognizing its potential as a game-changer for regional trade and connectivity. The railway link, once completed, will provide a vital economic corridor connecting Central Asia to South Asia and beyond. Trade flows are expected to improve significantly, reducing transportation costs and shortening delivery times. Over the past few years, cargo transportation along the Uzbekistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan corridor has increased fivefold. Pakistan and Uzbekistan also discussed potential collaborations in energy, infrastructure, and industrial sectors. Establishing energy corridors between Pakistan, Uzbekistan, and Azerbaijan will allow Pakistan to diversify its energy mix while granting Central Asian nations access to South Asian markets through Pakistan’s ports in Gwadar and Karachi.
Pakistan has consistently prioritized stronger relations with Central Asian states under its “Vision Central Asia” policy, which focuses on economic integration, trade expansion, defense cooperation, regional connectivity, and people-to-people exchanges. These efforts align with Pakistan’s broader vision of fostering regional connectivity through the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), serving as a gateway for Central Asian trade to global markets. PM Shehbaz Sharif’s visit to Uzbekistan is a testament to Pakistan’s commitment to fostering regional diplomacy, economic collaboration, and security cooperation. The agreements and discussions held during this visit set the foundation for a more interconnected, prosperous future for both Pakistan-Uzbekistan relations and the region.
