Uzbek President’s Pakistan Visit Seen as Turning Point for Trade, Investment Ties
ISLAMABAD: Speakers at a round table discussion on Monday described the upcoming visit of Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev to Pakistan as a milestone for strengthening bilateral economic, trade, and diplomatic relations, with the potential to significantly boost regional economic integration.
The views were shared at the “Round Table on the Essence, Content and Significance of the Address by the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, to the Oliy Majlis of the People of Uzbekistan,” organized by the Embassy of Uzbekistan in Islamabad.
Participants said Pakistan and Uzbekistan, as emerging regional economies, were entering a new phase of cooperation, with the visit expected to usher in broader economic engagement and improved regional connectivity.
Addressing the event, First Deputy Foreign Minister of Uzbekistan Bakhromjon Aloev said President Mirziyoyev’s visit would mark a major step forward in bilateral relations, with new initiatives planned in trade, transport, energy, and digital technologies. He added that key agreements were expected to raise bilateral trade to $2 billion, noting that while current trade remained below potential, it had grown rapidly in recent years.
Aloev also highlighted the Uzbek president’s long-term vision for regional economic integration and said tourism from Pakistan to Uzbekistan was rising steadily, with around 25,000 Pakistani visitors expected this year.
Uzbek Ambassador to Pakistan Alisher Tukhtaev said the visit would act as a catalyst for economic and trade ties while strengthening regional integration. He pointed to the launch of direct flights between the two countries as a major step toward enhancing people-to-people contact and connectivity.
Outlining Uzbekistan’s economic performance, the ambassador said GDP had surpassed $145 billion for the first time, exports rose 23 percent to $33.4 billion, gold reserves exceeded $60 billion, and foreign investment inflows reached $43.1 billion, accounting for nearly 32 percent of GDP. He added that economic growth was projected at 6.6 percent, with GDP expected to reach $167 billion.
Gen (R) Syed Khalid Amir Jafri, Director of the South Asia and International Studies Analysis Centre, stressed the importance of expanding cooperation between Pakistan and Uzbekistan in both economic and security spheres, noting that regional peace was essential for sustainable development.
Meanwhile, Khalid Taimur Akram, Director of the Common Future Society Think Tank, said President Mirziyoyev’s visit would include discussions on infrastructure and regional connectivity, with multiple sectoral agreements expected. Praising Uzbekistan’s rapid economic progress, he said it mirrored aspects of China’s growth model and offered opportunities for Pakistan’s business community, particularly in infrastructure projects such as roads and housing.
He added that continued momentum on trade targets, transport corridors, and technology partnerships could position Pakistan-Uzbekistan relations as a central link in emerging integration between Central and South Asia.
