Importance of Uzbekistan for Pakistan & the Region – by – Tazeen Akhtar

Republic of Uzbekistan is not new name in Pakistan since many years as the diplomatic team of the Embassy of Uzbekistan, in line with the national and international vision of their leader , President H.E Shavkat Mirziyoyev, have made special efforts to apprise Pakistani officials and people about their country and historical, cultural, social bonds the people of both countries have for not decades but since the centuries.

Uzbekistan is situated in Central Asia and is a unique country with many respects. Uzbekistan is very important for Pakistan because of many aspects and facts.

Pakistan consists of an area that has been governed by Muslim conquerors who came here from Uzbekistan, Farghana valley, like Moghal Emperor, Zaheer ud Din Babur, the pioneer of Mogul Dynasty in Indo-Pak Sub Continent in 16th Century. Millions of Moguls still live in Pakistan.

Pakistan has a large number of people having faith in Naqshbandiya Faith and the Imam’s of this faith lived in the land that is now Uzbekistan, like Samarkand and Bokhara. A large number of Bukhari communities are in Pakistan.

Pakistani students, scientists, doctors, intellectuals are well aware of Bu Ali Sina, Abu Rayhan al-Biruni, Khawarizmi and others. They were all from Uzbekistan. Abu Rayhan al-Biruni  invented a method proposed and used to estimate the radius and circumference of the Earth  while he lived in Pakistani region of Pind Dadenkhan, District Jehlum.

Pakistani people love Ghalib’s poetry. Mirza Asad Ullah Ghalib was from the Baig (Bek) family of Uzbekistan. His ancestors migrated from Samar Qand and settled in Agra UP during Moghal Era. Ghalib liked to spend his life in Delhi, the capital of Hindustan. It was Bahadur Shah Zafar’s rule, the last Mogul Emperor.

Uzbekistan is the biggest country in central Asia with respect to population. Uzbekistan is the only country in this region that has common borders with all central Asian countries + Russia and Afghanistan.

Uzbekistan is the only country in whole Central Asia that has direct transport connection with Pakistan. Uzbekistan Airline operates two flights weekly between Lahore and Tashkent. Further, Uzbekistan is interested to increase this frequency with the growing number of Pakistani tourists.

One of the federating units of Uzbekistan is KarakalPakstan that enhances the familiarity between two nations. These and many other features of Uzbekistan have made this country very near to Pakistan.

President of Uzbekistan, H.E Shavkat Mirziyoyev has led his nation and state very wisely, with his visionary leadership qualities from a struggling country to a progressing and prospering state through the past few years. His calculated and well thought approach in all sectors and spheres including social, economic, agriculture, industry, youth, women, interfaith harmony, has helped this country overcome the problems and achieve the targets of becoming a well organized and developed country among the community of nations.

It is indeed a great honor for our organization “Pakistan in the World” to publish this special number on Uzbekistan and the President of Uzbekistan. H.E Shavkat Mirziyoyev’s leadership is no doubt taking this country towards a destination of progress and prosperity. We think that his services to his nation and achievements of this country deserve appreciation and this publication is in the same connection.

Recently, Uzbekistan has successfully secured another feather in the cap when the US State Department excluded the name of Uzbekistan from the countries that are in the watch list of religious freedom. We congratulate people of Uzbekistan on this achievement and express our best wishes that may our brothers and sisters of this great nation have more good news in the coming days in the new year of 2021.

Here we appreciate the efforts of former ambassador Mr Furqatbek Siddiq for his selfless hard work in improving the bilateral relations. We welcome new ambassador designate Mr Oybek Arif Usmanov. He is assuming the charge for the second time in Pakistan. We admire Col Sadullah‘s performance as acting ambassador during the last few months. The diplomats Mr Khusan Tashbaev, Mr Jasur and other fellows also have left no stone unturned in bridging the gaps and building the close relations.

Tazeen Akhtar/ Editor / tazeen303@gmail.com / @TAZEEN303 /facebook.com/ tazeen.akhtar.14