Uzbekistan Pakistan Trade to Reach $1 Billion Milestone Soon – 33rd Independence Day Celebration in Islamabad Marks the Flourishing Ties in All Sectors

Report : Tazeen Akhtar

Pictures : Raja Ghulam Fareed  (Copy Rights Reserved )

The Independence day of the Republic of New Uzbekistan, the largest country in Central Asia with respect to population and the only most connected state , having common borders with all CARs + Afghanistan, has been a memorable event always in Islamabad and the same spirit was observed  in the latest celebration that was very well managed and very well attended by notables from all walks of life. Mr. & Mrs. H.E Oybek Arif Usmanov, Ambassador of Uzbekistan and team hosted a grand reception on 07 Sep 2024 at Serena Hotels Islamabad .

Federal Minister for commerce Jam Kamal Khan graced the event as Chief Guest. Dean of diplomatic corps, Ambassador Atadjan Movlamov, Government and military officials, Parliamentarians, former federal Ministers and Secretaries,Ambassadors and High commissioners of Central Asian, Eastern European, ASEAN, Africa and other countries,Honorary Consul Generals Karachi and Lahore Mr. Nadeem Khalid and Najeeb Mushtaq prominent experts, businessmen community and media representatives were also present.

Important to note was the Ambassador made Gov and PTI leaders sit together at one stage. PTI leader and former Speaker National Assembly Asad Qaisar was also present when Minister Jam Kamal was there as Chief Guest of the ceremony.

Ambassador H.E Oybek Arif Usmanov, in his welcome address, expressed his extreme gratefulness  to the President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister  Shahbaz Sharif, the Goverment of Pakistan, Pakistan army, Navy and Air force for great support to the connectivity strategy of Uzbekistan.

He  congratulated brave Pakistani nation on Defense Day of Pakistan 06 Sep commemorated only a day before the National Day of his country. He mentioned, “Today we all joined the celebrations of Pakistan Air Force Yaum-e Fizaaya as great manifestation of unity, resilience, dedication to defend Motherland it`s peaceful life and long term stability in the region.”

Ambassador shed light on bilateral cooperation in defense sector. He said, “Our Ministries of Defense are regularly holding Staff Talks on military cooperation and according to Agreement on military-technical cooperation this year 1st meeting of the Joint Working Commission was held in Islamabad. Both countries are enjoying active cooperation in the sphere of military training as well as holding multilateral exercises on combating terrorism.”

Strategic Partnership

Uzbekistan and Pakistan are not only genuine partners but brotherly cooperation has been elevated to a level of the strategical partnership!

H.E Usmanov shared, ” Only in last 3 years my Leader Hon President of Uzbekistan H.E. Shavkat Mirziyoyev more than 9 times has held personal interaction with his Pakistani counterparts the PM Shehbaz Sharif, President Asif Ali Zardari and Chief of Army Staff Gen Asim Munir, strengthening the trade and industrial, technological projects as well as the active military cooperation between our countries.”

“As it was agreed between our ministers of Foreign relations – DPM Ishaq Dar  and our Minister Mr. Bakhtiar Saidov (during his last meetings in Islamabad) we are actively implementing the proactive Economic Diplomacy, further cementing our multifaceted cooperation through 74 joint bilateral agreements and MOU`s, Ambassador noted.

Pakistan in the World – May/June 2024

Mr. Usmanov  expressed his gratitude to Minister Jam Kamal Khan for gracing this occasion as Chief Guest representing honorable PM & Gov of Pakistan. He appreciated with  respect and best wishes, the contribution of former Secretary Mr. Muhammad Sualeh Ahmad Faruqui, EAD Division Secretary Mr. Kazim Niazi as well as Railways Ministry Secretary Mr. Mazhar Ali Shah who are working with Uzbek colleagues  to provide the dynamically growing bilateral trade, investments and transit corridors.

H.E was also thankful to all professional teams of the Prime Minister Office, Ministries of foreign affairs, commerce and industries, Railways and aviation, Finance, Economic and Security Divisions Ministry of Food security and many other respective ministries and entities.

” By our joint efforts we have increased upto $ Half Billion of bilateral trade via brotherly Afghanistan based on Transit and Preferential trade agreements. Pakistan and Turkiye are the only countries with whom Uzbekistan has reached such level of trade and logistics cooperation.  No doubt that our teams will reach very soon the goals of $ 1 Billion Trade and Industrial cooperation Road Maps, Ambassador continued.

Here it is pertinent to note that only this year, thanks to efforts on both sides,  more than a 50 high-level meetings and more than 100 ministerial summits took place. Both countries gained most remarkable results in Tashkent and Islamabad, Samarqand and Lahore, Bukhara and Karachi, Peshawar and Termiz. The two states achieved milestones in  people to people contacts, B2B forums strengthening region to region connectivity.

Ambassador quoted the address of President H.E. Shavkat Mirziyoyev,  on the 33nd Anniversary of the Independence of the Republic of Uzbekistan in which the President stressed that large-scale work carried out in recent years.

Uzbekistan’s GDP increased by 6.4% in 2024 (6.2% for the same period in 2023) and amounted to $101 billion (inflation – 5.2%), foreign direct investments has increased by 37% and amounted to $22 billion as well as foreign trade turnover with 186 countries increased by 8.5% (export level amounted to $45 billion).

Pakistan in the World – April / May 2024

“Only united – we are a one nation, only together – a strong country!”, Shavkat Mirziyoyev said.

Ambassador added that the government of Uzbekistan is proudly serving to people in strengthening the political stability, the economic development and the cooperation with foreign partners. We all diplomats based here in Islamabad are witnessing that same wise approach and new Development Strategy is now been implemented in Pakistan under the leadership of PM Shehbaz Sharif.

H.E Usmanov said, “Our Leaders underscored the importance of further accelerating regional connectivity in the fields of textiles, pharmaceutical production, renewable energy, agriculture, IT logistics and many other sectors.”

FLAGSHIP PROJECT OF TRILATERAL RAILWAY

Mr. Ambassador highlighted the flagship project of trilateral railway connecting both states through Afghanistan. He said, “Particular attention of our nations and brotherly neighbor Afghanistan is the construction project of the Uzbekistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan railway. In Tashkent new project office was established and recently the Government of Pakistan (Ministry of Railways) hosted in Islamabad trilateral meeting of the project office. Three countries have signed the Protocol upon the feasibility studies, financing and construction of this game changer project.

Finally, the Ambassador expressed  confidence that every  meeting in next year will be resulted with new significant inputs for  more connectivity between Pakistan and Uzbekistan.

Here it is worth mentioning that Ambassador Usmanov carries a vast experience of working with Pakistan. He has served in Islamabad for more than decade in his three time posting. His contribution in re-connecting the two regions and nations will always be remembered and admired.

Pakistan in the World – JAN 2024

Federal Minister for commerce Jam Kamal Khan