Tazeen Akhtar
Republic of Uzbekistan is getting more and more attention from Pakistani officials for increase in trade, communication, investments, agriculture, education, tourism and defense. 6 Sep was memorable day in bilateral relations when Cheif of Army Staff of Pakistan, General Asim Munir was in Tashkent and had a meeting with President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, here in Islamabad Ambassador Aybek Arif Usmanov hosted a reception on the 32nd Anniversary of the Independence of the Republic of Uzbekistan in which Caretaker Minister Commerce Dr Gauhar Ejaz pledged to take the bilateral trade and cooperation to new heights and fixed first target of the volume at One Billion Dollar.Ambassador expressed determination “We will reach the target In Sha Allah.”
Bilateral trade has already touched half Billion Dollar in last two years. The Minister also said that the potential of trade with Uzbekistan is at least 5 Billion Dollar and Uzbekistan is the gate way for Pakistan to connect with Central Asia. He said Central Asia and Pakistan can build trade and investments cooperation up-to 50 Billion Dollars.
The reception was well attended with officials of government and all wings of armed forces of Pakistan that depicted the close and cordial relations between two brotherly countries. Ambassadors of Central Asia, Russia, European, African, ASEAN countries were also present.
Ambassador Aybek Arif Usmanov in his welcome address spoke highly about the cooperation he received from all officials in performance of his service in Islamabad.He expressed his deep gratitude to the President of Pakistan Dr. Arif Alvi, the Government of Pakistan, Pakistan Army Navy and Air force for great achievements we gained in our connectivity. In last years our brotherly cooperation has been elevated to a level of the strategical partnership due to confidant political dialogue, strengthening the trade and industrial, technological projects as well as the active military cooperation between our armed forces.
Mr. Aybek Arif Usmanov appreciated Dr. Gauhar Ejaz, Secretary Muhammad Sualeh Ahmad Faruqui and all team who are working with Uzbek colleagues 24\7 to provide the dynamically growing bilateral trade.
Ambassador said, “Only this year after successful high-level summits of my President and Hon Prime Minister of Pakistan we had conducted the 8th Joint ministerial commission in Tashkent. And nowadays we are implementing new connectivity projects with the help of Chambers of Commerce’s and industrial associations in Islamabad and all provinces of Pakistan.”
“With your valuable and tireless efforts we been able to arrange in last 2 years more than a dozen high-level meetings more than hundred ministerial summits. In Tashkent and Islamabad Samarqand and Lahore, Bukhara and Karachi Peshawar and Termiz we gained most remarkable results – as the people to people contacts, business to business forums while strengthening region to region institutional connectivity, Mr. Usmanov noted.
Mr. Aybek Arif Usmanov shed light on the reforms in his country with checks and balances with focus on the welfare and well being of the citizens. He shared the statement of the President on the National Day. The President said that the gross domestic product in the country has grown by more than 1.5 times, and the number of business entities – by 2 times, industrial growth has exceeded 40%.
“We all diplomats here in Islamabad are witnessing that same wise approach and long-term Development Strategy is now been implemented in Pakistan under the leadership of Caretaker Prime-Minister Hon Anwaar ul-Haq Kakar and all ministries and military institutions of Pakistan, said the Ambassador.
Ambassador expressed the best wishes for Caretaker gov of Pakistan. He said that the Leaders underscored the importance of further strengthening of bilateral relations and accelerating regional connectivity in the fields of Pharmaceutical production, energy, agriculture, IT, textiles and logistics, Inshallah.
Mr. Usmanov specially described Uzbekistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan railway as flagship project . Last month in Tashkent new project office was established and in Islamabad trilateral recent meeting of the project office (Uzb-Pak-Afg) hosted by the Government of Pakistan (Ministry of Railways) three countries have signed the Protocol upon the feasibility studies, financing and construction of this Game changer project.
Dr Gauher Ejaz in his keynote address said, to the pleasant astonishment of the guests that Pakistan can increase its trade to 50 Billion Dollars with CARs starting with Uzbekistan which is the gateway for Pakistan to Central Asia and Azerbaijan.
He praised President Shaukat’s calculated approach and work and shared with the participants his memories of his visits to Uzbekistan since the independence of this great Central Asian state.He appreciated the vision of President Shavkat for common development and prosperity of the whole region and beyond.
“H.E Shavkat Mirziyoyev was Prime Minister in the government of First President Late Islam Karimov when I met him for first time. At that time, the most impressive factor I found in his personality was that Mr. Shavkat’s wanted everything produced in his country should be value added.”
He said that Uzbekistan is growing the best quality cotton and the system there encourages farmers not only to grow cotton but also to convert it into yarn and yarn into fabric. It adds to the price of the product. They earn not a dollar for the raw material but 5 dollars from the value added product.
Minister shared that Uzbekistan’s imports are 27 Billion dollars in which Pakistan’s share is only 80 million dollars. This indicates we have great potential to export our products to Uzbekistan.
here it is worth mentioning that trilateral train agreement of Uzbekistan Afghanistan and Pakistan can play key role to reach the milestone of one billion dollar after completion. Similarly , to take the trade volume with Central Asia to multi billion dollar, it is necessary that the pending projects of CASA-1000 and TAPI are also completed as soon as possible.
COAS Pakistan Calls on President Uzbekistan – Emphasizes Coop in Military Training and Intelligence Sharing – Appreciated Readiness of Uzbek Military
