Yes ! it is all about a new place for the tourism enthusiasts of Pakistan. Tashkent , Samarkand, Bukhara, Khiva, Termez and many other historical cities of the Republic of Uzbekistan ! Only One and Half Hour Flight from Islamabad in Only 400 USD for Two Way ! Moreover ! Uzbekistan is not only very beautiful, but very welcoming and very economic as well ! Offering all types of Tourism , Landscape – Heritage – Culture – Sight Seeing – Ziyorat etc
Starting October 28, 2025, Uzbekistan Airways will double the frequency of its regular flights between Tashkent and Islamabad. These flights will operate twice a week – on Tuesdays and Saturdays. This expansion directly responds to the increasing demand from travelers whose enthusiasm reflects the warmth of our people-to-people ties.
The Embassy has rightly and wisely engaged the stakeholders in Pakistan. Among them the tourist operators and influencers can play the keyrole in promotion of the images of Uzbekistan in Pakistan. The Embassy is recognizing the contributions in this regard by decorating them with awards and titles.
The latest event in Islamabad in this regard was under the theme of “Bridging Cultures: Tourism Potential of Uzbekistan,” in which Ambassador Alisher Tukhtaev honored Mr. Hamid Mehboob, who is working on promotion of Uzbek tourism,with title of “Tourism Brand Ambassador of Uzbekistan in Pakistan.”
The event became a true celebration of friendship, culture, and spiritual unity between our two brotherly nations that brought together a wide range of distinguished participants:The ceremony began with the national anthems of both countries, followed by a welcome address by the Ambassador H.E Alisher Tukhtaev, who highlighted the rich historical and cultural heritage of Samarkand, Bukhara, Khiva, Kokand, and other great cities of Uzbekistan — centers of science, spirituality, and Islamic civilization.
Ambassador in his keynote address, invited Pakistanis to visit the cities, Tashkent, Samarkand, Bukhara, Khiva, Kokand, Shakhrisabz and Termez that are among the cradles of Islamic scholarship, culture, and art.
“These cities are living museums of Islamic architecture, spirituality, intellectual life, and they have nurtured the golden age of Islamic science and thought. They are living symbols of our shared faith, history, and values. That’s why these historical and Islamic heritage sites belong not only to the people of Uzbekistan, but to the entire Muslim Ummah, H.E elaborated.
Here it is worth mentioning that the cities are very well known in Pakistan. With direct flights from Lahore, Islamabad , the number of travelers including tourists to Uzbekistan or passengers to Europe will definitely increased rapidly.
It was noted that starting from October 28, 2025, Uzbekistan Airways is increasing the number of flights between Tashkent and Islamabad.Thus, within just 11 months, four regular flight routes between Uzbekistan and Pakistan have been launched, creating new opportunities for the growth of tourism and business relations.
The event also highlighted the upcoming 43rd Session of the UNESCO General Conference in Samarkand, which stands as international recognition of Uzbekistan’s achievements in the fields of culture, education, and science.
In his inspiring remarks, Mr. Hamid Mahmood Chaudhry emphasized that he has been promoting Uzbekistan’s cultural heritage, pilgrimage tourism, and cultural tourism in Pakistan for more than 30 years, and expressed his determination to continue this noble mission with even greater passion and dedication.
H.E ALISHER TUKHTAEV ; Speech at the Ceremony
It is a distinct honor and great pleasure for me to welcome you all to this special ceremony entitled “Bridging Cultures: Tourism Potential of Uzbekistan”, which is dedicated to strengthening the bonds of friendship between Uzbekistan and Pakistan through the promotion of tourism, culture, and people-to-people connections.
We are also gathered here to celebrate a significant occasion, the appointment of Mr. Hamid Mahmood Chaudhry as the Ambassador of the Tourism Brand of Uzbekistan in Pakistan.
Uzbekistan, located in the very heart of Central Asia and the Great Silk Road, is a land of ancient civilizations, magnificent architecture, and profound spirituality. Uzbekistan has for millennia been a land where ideas flourished and faith was strengthened.
Our cities, such as Samarkand, Bukhara, Khiva, Kokand, Shakhrisabz and Termez are among the cradles of Islamic scholarship, culture, and art. These cities are living museums of Islamic architecture, spirituality, intellectual life, and they have nurtured the golden age of Islamic science and thought. They are living symbols of our shared faith, history, and values. That’s why these historical and Islamic heritage sites belong not only to the people of Uzbekistan, but to the entire Muslim Ummah.
The sacred land of Uzbekistan have given birth to great scholars and saints such as Imam al-Bukhari, Imam at-Termizi, Bahouddin Naqshband, Abu Rayhan al-Biruni, Al-Khwarizmi, Ibn Sina and many others, whose teachings continue to inspire millions of Muslims across the World.
These greatest minds of the Muslim Ummah are ones who shaped not only our regional identity but also the universal heritage of Islamic civilization. That’s why these scholars were the intellectual ancestors of not just Uzbekistan, but also of all the Muslim Ummah, including the great nation of Pakistan.
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When we speak of the Naqshbandi tradition, which has profoundly influenced Sufism in Pakistan, we speak of the legacy of Khwaja Bahouddin Naqshband, whose shrine in Bukhara remains a major pilgrimage site for believers from across the Muslim World.
The spiritual lineage of the Naqshbandi order spread through Central Asia to the South Asia, inspiring figures like Khwaja Ubaidullah Ahrar, Khwaja Sirajuddin Naqshbandi, and later reaching the soil of what is today Pakistan.
The teachings of these masters, centered on love, purity, and service, continue to shape the spiritual life of millions of people in Uzbekistan and Pakistan.
Baburid Empire, founded by Zahiriddin Muhammad Babur, the cultural and intellectual bridge between our nations grew even stronger. Babur’s Baburnama is not only a masterpiece of Turkic literature, but also a precious record of the interconnected destinies of Central and South Asia.
The Baburid courts became beacons of knowledge, art, and architecture, all inspired by the same cultural DNA that once flourished in Samarkand and Bukhara.
Thus, the connection between Uzbekistan and Pakistan is not a matter of modern diplomacy alone, it is a civilizational kinship, rooted in shared scholars, shared saints, and shared souls.
In this regard, the Government of Uzbekistan warmly invites our Pakistani friends to visit and perform spiritual ziyarah journeys to these blessed places. We wish to see more Pakistani brothers and sisters walking through the same streets where great scholars once taught, where science, literature, and Islamic thought flourished for centuries.
We believe that every journey from Pakistan to Uzbekistan is not only a physical trip, but also a journey of the heart, a rediscovery of one’s own spiritual and historical roots.
It is through such exchanges that our peoples strengthen mutual understanding, deepen friendship, and preserve the unity.
I am also pleased to share some exciting news that highlights Uzbekistan’s growing role on the international stage.
From October 30 to November 13, 2025, the ancient and majestic city of Samarkand will host the 43rd Session of the UNESCO General Conference.This will be the first time in more than 40 years that the UNESCO General Conference is being held outside of Paris.
The selection of Samarkand as the venue for this high-profile global event stands as a clear testament to the international recognition of Uzbekistan’s significant achievements in the fields of culture, science, education, communication, and information, as well as its rich historical and cultural heritage.
This honor reaffirms Uzbekistan’s dedication to promoting intercultural dialogue, preserving world heritage, and serving as a bridge between East and West, North and South, just as Samarkand has done for centuries.
Today we are also gathered to celebrate the appointment of Mr. Hameed Mahmood Chaudhry as Uzbekistan’s Tourism Brand Ambassador in Pakistan.
This appointment carries great symbolic and practical importance. Mr. Hamid is not only a prominent personality in Pakistan’s tourism community, but also a passionate advocate of cultural connectivity and historical awareness. He is also known for his dedication to promoting tourism and cultural heritage.
As Uzbekistan’s Tourism Brand Ambassador, his mission will be to raise awareness in Pakistan about our shared historical and civilizational roots, to foster people-to-people connectivity, and to build new pathways for academic tourism, spiritual tourism, and intellectual exchange.
I am confident that through his tireless efforts, more Pakistanis will come to discover Uzbekistan as a destination of faith, culture, learning, and inspiration.
October 21, is also a very special day for the people of Uzbekistan. It marks the Day of the Uzbek Language, the day when the Uzbek language was granted the status of the State language in 1989.
It is an appropriate occasion to recall that Uzbek and Urdu share more than 4,000 mushtarak words, a reflection of the centuries-old bonds that unite our peoples. This linguistic closeness is not merely a coincidence; it is a living testimony to our shared history, culture, and worldview. These ties are one of the stronger foundations for building our common prosperous future together.
In this spirit, I would like to emphasize that our Tourism Brand Ambassador should not only promote traditional tourism, but he should go beyond and play an active role in advancing academic tourism and intellectual diplomacy, fostering research, collaboration, and dialogue between our scholars, historians, linguists, and cultural experts.
We must encourage joint research on our languages, literature, traditions, and shared heritage, to preserve them, promote them, and pass them on to future generations, ensuring that they continue to serve as a bridge of friendship and mutual understanding between our nations.
This is what we call intellectual diplomacy, a diplomacy of hearts and minds, guided by knowledge, culture, and respect. A key element of our growing partnership with Pakistan is the ease of travel between our two nations.
Today, the relations between Uzbekistan and Pakista are growing closer not only through our shared history and culture, but also through modern air connectivity. I am pleased to share that Uzbekistan Airways, national carrier of Uzbekistan, is making journeys between Uzbekistan and Pakistan even more convenient, affordable, and comfortable.
Starting October 28, 2025, Uzbekistan Airways will double the frequency of its regular flights between Tashkent and Islamabad. These flights will operate twice a week – on Tuesdays and Saturdays. This expansion directly responds to the increasing demand from travelers whose enthusiasm reflects the warmth of our people-to-people ties.
Flights from Tashkent to Islamabad now take just around one and half hours, offering a swift, time-saving connection. One-way fares start from approximately 220 USD, and round trips from 400 USD, making this route not only convenient but also highly cost-effective for business, study, or leisure travel.
In addition, Uzbekistan Airways operates two weekly flights between Tashkent and Lahore, on Wednesdays and Fridays, with similarly affordable fares and perfectly timed schedules, allowing Pakistani travelers more choice and flexibility.
Beyond their competitive prices, Uzbekistan Airways flights are renowned for their reliability, comfort, and world-class service standards. Passengers can enjoy efficient check-in, warm hospitality, and smooth transfers at Tashkent International Airport, which serves as a major transit hub linking Pakistan to over 50 international destinations across Europe, North America, the Middle East, East and South-East Asia.
These enhanced air links mean that travelers from Islamabad and Lahore can now reach not only the historic Silk Road cities of Samarkand, Bukhara, Khiva, and Kokand more easily, but also connect seamlessly to global destinations, such as Istanbul, Frankfurt, Paris, London, New York, Moscow, Minsk, Batumi, Tokyo, Seoul, Kuala Lumpur, Baku and Astana – all through Tashkent.
In essence, Uzbekistan Airways does more than connect cities: it connects cultures, families, and futures. It bridges Pakistan and Uzbekistan, saving time and resources while delivering the highest standards of service and comfort.
Truly, the skies between our nations are not just air routes, they are bridges of friendship, carrying our shared heritage and aspirations into the future.
Before concluding, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Mr. Aftab Ur Rehman Rana, Managing Director of the Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation, for his support and cooperation, invaluable efforts in promoting and strengthening tourism cooperation and cultural relations between our brotherly countries.
My heartfelt thanks also go to all distinguished guests, tourism companies and agents, media representatives, and friends who joined us today.
And finally, Mr. Hameed Mahmood Chaudhry, I extend my warmest congratulations on your appointment as Uzbekistan’s Tourism Brand Ambassador in Pakistan. I wish you every success and great achievements in this honorable mission. May your efforts further strengthen the friendship and mutual understanding between the peoples of Uzbekistan and Pakistan.
Thank you. Rahmat, Shukriya.
Uzbekistan–Pakistan dosti zindabad!
Long live the friendship between Uzbekistan and Pakistan!
