Tashkent: 23 Feb 2023 – The Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue, Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar called on the President of Uzbekistan, H.E. Mr. Shavkat Mirziyeyov today in Tashkent. The Finance Minister is scheduled to co-chair the 8th Session of Pakistan-Uzbekistan Joint Ministerial Commission (JMC) in Trade, Economy, and Scientific & Technical Cooperation, on 24 February 2023.
The meeting lasted for more than an hour, in which a wide range of trade, investment and regional connectivity issues were discussed. Both sides expressed hope that the operationalization of Preferential Trade Agreement and the Transit Trade Agreement (UPTTA) will help boost the bilateral trade.
The Uzbek President fondly recalled his meetings with the Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif in Samarkand and Astana in 2022, and his earlier meetings with the former Prime Minister Mian Mohammad Nawaz Sharif and reiterated deep rooted ties between Pakistan and Uzbekistan.
The Uzbek President appreciated Pakistan’s continued support for the trans-Afghan Railway project. Both sides discussed the various options for the funding of railway project that is expected to benefit the whole region.
The President also expressed satisfaction on the increased level of interaction with Pakistan and underlined the need to have even more interaction at all levels. He offered his full support to further deepen the economic cooperation between the two countries.
Finance Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar thanked the President for hosting the Pakistani delegation and hoped that the target set by the Joint Ministerial Commission for enhancing the bilateral trade to the level of One billion US $ is achieved at the earliest as both sides have keen interest. He also conveyed warm wishes to the Uzbek President and people of Uzbekistan from the Prime Minister Mohammad Shehbaz Sharif.
He also expressed his positive sentiments for early development of road and rail network between the two brotherly countries that will ultimately pave the way for regional connectivity.
The 8th Session of Pakistan-Uzbekistan Inter-governmental Commission (IGC) on Trade-Economic and Scientific-Technical Cooperation
