Central Asia Monitoring Desk Islamabad by Editor Tazeen Akhtar
Pakistan Uzbekistan relations and cooperation is flourishing not only at state to state level but the provinces of both brotherly countries are also working of building bridges and shaping up a strong partnership in all sectors that have potential to be exploited and taking the bilateral ties to the deepest level.
Today, both sides are opening a new strategic chapter of cooperation, with a focus on agreements reached during the last visit of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev to Pakistan.
This process started with Cooperation between Punjab (Pakistan) and Namangan (Uzbekistan) that was focused on strengthening bilateral trade, investment, and academic exchanges. Key initiatives included strategies to exchange business delegations, plans for investments in various sectors, and educational visits between institutions like Namangan State University and Punjab police or other academic bodies.
Second such bonds have been fostered between Punjab Province and the Tashkent Region to enhance trade, investment, industry, and agriculture. This provincial-level partnership is part of a broader effort to strengthen people-to-people contacts and unlock the full economic potential of the bilateral relationship.
Namangan Punjab Connection – Time to Tap the Potential -by Tazeen Akhtar Islamabad
Based on recent developments in April 2026, the Pakistani province of Sindh and the Navoiy region of Uzbekistan have agreed to strengthen cooperation across trade, industry, and agriculture.
Key aspects of the Sindh-Navoiy cooperation include:
Sister-Region Relationship: Both sides are working to establish a formal sister-region partnership.
Key Sectors: Collaborations focus on agriculture (specifically seed development, crop research, and agri-trade), livestock development, and halal products.
Trade and Industry: The agreement aims to enhance industrial cooperation, technology transfer, and business collaboration, strengthening overall bilateral economic ties.
Roadmap for Cooperation: A structured framework is being developed to move toward actionable, sustained provincial-level engagement.
The agreement was reached following a meeting between Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah and the Governor of Uzbekistan’s Navoiy Region, Tursunov Normat Tulkunovich, at the CM House.
From 28 April to 2 May 2026, the Embassy of Uzbekistan organized an official visit of the delegation of Navoiy Region, led by the Governor Normat Tursunov, to the cities of Karachi and Islamabad.
Ambassador Alisher Tukhtaev said, “This was not merely a routine visit but it was five days of intensive and substantive engagements, marked by concrete negotiations, new opportunities, and practical steps toward elevating relations to a new level of economic and strategic partnership.”
During the visit, more than 30 meetings and negotiations were held with the leadership of Sindh Province, the business community of Karachi, major industrial groups, financial institutions, and leading Pakistani companies.
Particular emphasis was placed on expanding cooperation in pharmaceuticals, textiles, the leather industry, agro-industry, livestock, logistics, healthcare, energy, and modern urban technologies.
Navoiy Region was presented as one of Uzbekistan’s most promising industrial and logistics hubs—featuring a strong raw material base, a free economic zone, an international airport, well-developed infrastructure, and direct access to Central Asian markets.
Negotiations were conducted with major companies and organizations, including Getz Pharma, Searle, Engro Corporation, Yunus Brothers Group, Diners Group, Rajby Industries, Nova Leather, Alsons Group, Sindh Bank, TDAP, Tata Best Foods, Pak Agro Group, among others.
The key outcome of the visit was the agreement to move from general discussions to practical implementation—launching joint production initiatives, organizing visits of Pakistani investors to Navoiy, establishing working groups, and preparing concrete investment projects.
Importantly, Pakistani partners demonstrated strong interest in Navoiy Region as a new gateway to the markets of Uzbekistan and the wider Central Asian region. This visit stands as yet another clear testament that Uzbekistan–Pakistan relations are entering a new, more practical and results-oriented phase.
Ambassador Alisher Tukhtaev and his team accomponied the Governor and his delegation in all these meetings. Ambassador has expressed confidence that ahead lie new projects, new investments, new jobs, and new opportunities for our peoples.
Business Forum @ Business Hub of Karachi
The Embassy organized a business forum in Karachi titled “Navoiy Region – Sindh Province,” bringing together representatives of government institutions and business communities from both countries.
During the event, discussions focused on:
— expanding trade and economic cooperation
— attracting investment
— developing industrial cooperation and exports
The Navoiy region presented its investment and industrial potential. As a result of meetings held in G2B and B2B formats: agreements were reached on the implementation of joint investment projects, concrete steps were outlined to advance industrial cooperation, priority areas for future collaboration were identified.
The forum marked an important practical step toward launching real joint projects . Tangible outcomes are expected in the near future — including investment, new production facilities, and job creation.
A New Growth Driver : A Pharmasueutical Hub in Navoiy
During the visit to Karachi, productive meetings were held with leading Pakistani pharmaceutical companies — The Searle Company Limited and Getz Pharma.
Key outcome: a shared interest in establishing modern pharmaceutical production in the region, with access to the Central Asian market.
Uzbekistan’s strong potential as a rapidly growing pharmaceutical market in the region was highlighted, opportunities for localization of production and reduction of import dependence were emphasized, prospects for technology transfer and workforce development were explored, possibilities for implementing joint investment projects were reviewed.
Key facts:
Central Asia represents a market of over 85 million people. Uzbekistan’s pharmaceutical market exceeds $5 billion, while imports of pharmaceutical products surpass $2.5 billion.
In this context, a key question was discussed: to what extent are companies ready to consider the Navoiy region as a strategic platform for entering the Central Asian market?
The Navoiy region was presented as an optimal location:
– a Free Economic Zone
– a well-developed industrial base
– modern logistics and an international airport
– efficient access to regional markets
Concrete agreements reached:
To organize a visit of Pakistani companies’ specialists to Navoiy
To jointly develop investment projects
To initiate feasibility studies
To build a long-term industrial partnership
Ambassador Tukhtaev sharing his opinion about this activity, said “This is not just a meeting. It is a concrete step toward establishing a regional pharmaceutical hub.I am confident that tangible projects, investments, and new jobs will follow in the near future.”
President Shavkat Mirziyoyev paid a landmark state visit to Pakistan from February 5–6, 2026, aimed at strengthening strategic ties, economic partnership, and regional connectivity. Meeting with PM Shehbaz Sharif and President Asif Ali Zardari, the leaders signed over 30 agreements covering trade, investment, energy, and the Trans-Afghan railway, targeting a $2 billion trade volume.
