Tazeen Akhtar
Embassy of Uzbekistan has organized a special briefing devoted to the provisions of UN’s General Assembly Resolution “Education and Religious Tolerance”. This document was initiated by the President H.E. Shavkat Mirziyoyev during his speech at GA’s 72-Session in Sep 2017.
The Resolution supports the development of religious, national and ethnic tolerance, fundamental access to education, as well as other provisions of Human Rights and Freedom, legally protected by domestic and international norms.
The participants of this important event were the representatives of expert-analytical, think tank, and business circles of Pakistan as well as leading editors of Pakistani media.
During the briefing was presented detailed information of the said GA Resolution, development of Human Rights and religious tolerance and international understanding between the nations living in Uzbekistan.
The resolution was unanimously supported by all UN member states including Pakistan. Further important thing was that more than 50 countries of North-Latin Americas, Asia,Africa and other countries co-authored the resolution.It indicates high recognition by international community of the urgency and timeliness of the initiative.
The resolution emphasizes the important role of promoting enlightenment,as well as recognizes the importance of integration, mutual respect, protection of human rights, tolerance and mutual understanding in the name of strengthening security and peace in the world. The document welcomes all international, regional and national initiatives aimed at promoting religious,intercultural and interfaith harmony and combating discrimination against individuals based on religion or belief.
The adoption of the resolution became the practical implementation of the initiative of the President Shavkat Mirziyoyev. The Resolution is the vision of the leadership and the nation of Uzbekistan. Ensuring universal access to education, eliminating illiteracy and ignorance. Literacy rate in Uzbekistan is 98 %.
President Shavkat has visualized promotion of tolerance and mutual respect, enduring religious freedom, protection of the rights of believers, and prevention of their discrimination”.
Also discussed the issues of the development Uzbekistan-Pakistan bilateral relations in the field of tourism, especially in “Ziyarat”, ecological, health and business tourism. It was noted by participants, that nowadays Uzbekistan is offering wide ranges of opportunities for Pakistani pilgrims to make their Ziyarat in Holy cities and places of Uzbekistan.
Uzbekistan is the biggest trade partner in Central Asia and the only country in this region having direct air links with Pakistan. The bilateral cooperation improved significantly during last few years. Trade volume increased from the lowest USA 30 Millian to reasonable USD 100 Millian. Certainly when there are no rail or road links and mutual contacts are under the development, this volume speaks lot about the efforts of the related officials including the team of Embassy of Uzbekistan.
Ambassador Furqatbek Akhmed Siddiq, replying to the questions of the participants, said that the bilateral trade volume can be enhanced upto USD 300 Million in next few years.
Sharing latest developments, Ambassador said that a tourist information center is being opened in Islamabad from where every information can be collected for all types of tourism including religious, education, health etc. Uzbekistan is ready to restore the beauty of Shalimar Gardens at Lahore Punjab. It is a common heritage. Our team will visit it next month to prepare a report on what is required to do and how much expenditures will be needed.
The biggest development is 5 more flights of Fly Dubai from Karachi,Lahore and Quetta to Tashkent, Samarqand. Ambassador said that the airline has been convinced to start the flights from the current month of March 2019. This will add to already increasing number of tourists from Pakistan to Uzbekistan.
Uzbekistan believes in tolerant Islam that is the most important bond between the two countries. We have common traditions,history and heritage. We can say that both countries are spiritual brothers.From Imam Bokhari to Zaheer ud Din Babur. Abu Rehon Al-beiruni discovered circumference of the World while his research in an area that is part of Pakistan now.
Religious Ministry of Pakistan is expected to sign an agreement of cooperation to promoting the religious tourism of Ziyarat. Both countries will share their experiences in Meusiums as well.
Uzbekistan is developing a Center of Islamic Civilization where the scholars will carry research work on Islam.International Center of Imom Bokhari. School of Hadith in Samarkent has been set up for those who want to learn Imom Bokhari. Another Medrassah in Bokhara has more than 2 thousand historical Islamic documents that will be digitized to save and make reachable to the interested scholars.
Ambassador shared that Amir Temur took mesons from Multan who had expertise in ceramics construction. That is why one can see resemblance in the construction of mausoleums of Uzbekistan and Multan. Another thing about Multan is Cotton. Uzbekistan is among first 5 fine cotton growers and also manufacturer of agricultural machinery. The Embassy displayed 10 types of agri machinery in Multan in 2017. Uzbekistan is ready to help establish cotton university at Multan.
In education sector both countries have vast potential of cooperation. 300 Pakistani students are studying at Bokhari Medical University. 2 Urdu departments are working in Uzbekistan. More than 5 thousand word are common in both countries. Ambassador Furqatbek has visited many universities of Pakistan sharing opportunities for Pakistani students in Uzbekistan.
Pakistani students have learnt about Abu Rehon Al-Beiruni, Musa Al-Khawarzi, Abu Ali Sina, Abu Nasar Al-Farabi and many others but most of these students do not know they belong to Uzbekistan. The Embassy is planning to arrange visits to educational institutions and screen the documentary on these Muslim Scientists, Mathematicians, Astrologers etc.
DHM Mr Zafar and Mr Amir Mahmood of Travel Advisers were also present at the briefing. 
01 March 2019
