Pakistan, Uzbekistan Chart Roadmap to $2bn Trade Goal at 10th IGC Session
ISLAMABAD: – Pakistan and Uzbekistan reaffirmed their commitment to deepening a strategic economic partnership during the 10th Session of the Pakistan-Uzbekistan Intergovernmental Commission (IGC) on Trade, Economic, and Scientific-Technical Cooperation, held in Islamabad.
The session was co-chaired by Special Assistant to the Prime Minister for Industries and Production Haroon Akhtar Khan and Uzbekistan’s Minister of Investment, Industry and Trade Laziz Kudratov. The talks reviewed progress in bilateral relations and outlined a forward-looking roadmap to strengthen cooperation across key economic and social sectors.
Both sides expressed satisfaction with the steady progress made since the previous IGC session in 2025 and reiterated their resolve to expand trade, investment, and broader economic engagement. They underscored the importance of the Preferential Trade Agreement, welcomed progress under Phase II concessions, and agreed to accelerate institutional measures to reach the $2 billion bilateral trade target.
Discussions focused on trade facilitation, improved logistics, customs digitalization, transit trade cooperation, development of regional trade corridors, and stronger business-to-business links, supported by easier visa processes for business communities.
The two countries also agreed to establish their first Joint Working Group on labor relations to address labor mobility, skills development, workplace safety, and employment visa issues.
In transport and communications, the Commission welcomed interest in launching direct flights, reviewed regional railway and connectivity projects, and agreed to advance alternative transport corridors to boost regional trade and transit.
Agriculture and food security featured prominently, with progress noted on phytosanitary protocols enabling Uzbek fruit exports to Pakistan. Both sides agreed to expand cooperation through new protocols and joint working groups in plant protection, livestock development, and agricultural research, focusing on sustainable growth and food security.
In higher education, science, and technology, progress in academic partnerships was welcomed, with commitments to promote joint research, exchanges of faculty and students, vocational training, innovation, and capacity building under newly signed agreements.
Environmental and climate cooperation was identified as a shared priority, covering climate resilience, glacier protection, sustainable water management, gender-inclusive climate action, and community-based adaptation. In the pharmaceutical sector, both sides agreed to enhance regulatory cooperation, promote joint ventures, support manufacturer exchanges, and strengthen quality and safety standards.
Further cooperation was advanced in energy, minerals, information technology, telecommunications, SMEs, industry, banking, and finance, with agreements to boost digitalization, innovation, industrial partnerships, financial cooperation, and institutional capacity.
In their remarks, Haroon Akhtar Khan and Laziz Kudratov emphasized translating strong political ties into tangible economic outcomes, expressing confidence that the session’s decisions would deepen institutional links, encourage private sector participation, and drive sustainable growth.
Pakistan welcomed the outcomes of the session, noting they reflected a shared commitment to strengthening cooperation across priority sectors. Both sides agreed that the 11th IGC session would be held in Tashkent on mutually agreed dates.
