As we noted earlier in our magazine and website edition , that Uzbekistan is leaving no stone unturned to connect this region in people to people , gov to gov and business to business connections , we have more developments in this regard , shared by the diplomat of brotherly central Asian country. Uzbekistan, after establishing direct air contact between Tashkent and Lahore and reaching an agreement to operate train service between Tashkent and Peshawer through Mazar e Shareef Afghanistan, has now looking forward to one direct weekly flight between Islamabad and Tashkent, that by Serene Airlines within few weeks time.
The already working flight between Tashkent -Lahore is operated by Uzbekistan Air. Therefore , the new direct flight will be a symbol of reciprocation of the warmth of closeness from Pakistani side.
Further, Uzbekistan is softening the visa regime for Pakistani citizens again within most probably few weeks. Both sides are working upon it. When the decisions made, Pakistanis will be able to apply online and by paying 20 dollars fee through credit card, will get a visa within 3 working days.At present both countries are issuing visas on parity basis.
This information was shared by Mr. Khusan Tashbaev in a meet up program hosted by our Magazine “Pakistan in the World” in collaboration with renowned writer, poet and spiritual personality Dr Afshan Malik in Islamabad on 05 Jan 2021. Selected gathering was invited and COVID SoPs were observed in the program that was meant to discuss commonalities between Uzbekistan and Pakistan. The participants asked questions and the guest from the Uzbekistan embassy replied to their satisfaction.
Earlier , Dr Afshan Malik threw light on the work of Imam Bokhari and the follower ship the great saint of Islam has in Pakistan. She also spoke about Abu Rehan Al-beruni and said that he discovered the radius of earth when he was in the Pind Dadan Khan area of present Punjab. She said that we need to work upon the establishment of some memorial at that place. She emphasized that more gatherings should be arranged to disseminate information on Uzbekistan.
Mr. Tazeen Akhtar, in his welcome note, apprised the participants of the most central commonalities among the two countries. He noted that both countries enjoy historical, traditional, social, cultural and religious connections for not decades but for centuries into history.
He shared that the main thing to bring two nations closer is language and we have thousands of common words in our languages. Spiritual leaders are the strongest bond between us like Imam Bokhari and many others. Philosophers , scientists and intellectuals like Abu Rehan Alberuni, Bu Ali Sina, Khawarizmi and many others are very well known in Pakistan.
Zaheer ud Din Baber and the Moghal Dynasty from Uzbekistan united the dispersed India into a central Sultanate bringing peace and prosperity in the sub continent. It was only in Moghal rule that India became so rich that many nations of Europe from thousands miles away thronged to the sub continent.
Tazeen Akhtar admired the services of the President H.H Shavkat Mirziyoyev in building the system in every sector for the development of his nation. He said that H.H is among only few leaders in the world who contribute their knowledge and experiences in almost all areas from international relations to national well being, from politics to social sector,from agriculture to industry, from education to sports, from youth to women and children.
He said the President of Uzbekistan can be seen one time with a farmer in a remote area of his country and the other time shaking hands with the Secretary General of UNO and a nation led by that leader achieves high place among the community of nations in the world.
Tazeen Akhtar also narrated a love story that reveals a special relation between the two nations. He said that Pakistan, especially Punjab has many historical love stories that are known in India as well. Both countries’ film industries have produced many films on these love stories. Sohni (Beautiful) and Mahiwal (Buffalo Herder) is one of these stories. Mahiwal was Mirza Izzat Bek (Baig) from Bokhara. In the 18th century , Izzat Bek came to India as a trader and stayed near Gujrat (present Punjab, Pakistan).
Here Izzat Bek saw Sohni and lost his heart to the beauty of the young girl of a local pot maker. Sohni reciprocated with love and both developed strong feelings for each other. But as the world is an enemy of love, her father married her to a relative. Izzat Bek could not see this and left everything to live in solitude across River Chenab. Sohni found the way to meet him when her husband was away from home.
She would swim the river on her specially made hard baked earthen pitcher. Then came the unfortunate night when her sister in law replaced the pitcher with a roughly prepared pitcher that Sohni could not check. The pitcher broke while Sohni was in the middle of the river. She sank into the water. Izzat Bek was watching this heart breaking scene. He too jumped into the river and was swept away with water from life.
He concluded that there is so much common in both countries that one can not note all in one sitting. People of Pakistan know most of these things but the only thing they do not know is that all these things are in a country that is Uzbekistan. We need to connect this gap and when there is direct access available, Uzbekistan will see how a large number of Pakistani tourists visit Uzbekistan and similarly Pakistan can receive many Uzbek guests as we have preserved many attractions for them from history.
Mr. Khusan Tashbaev thanked the hosts for such an informative discussion and appreciated the participants for their questions to know more and more about his country.
Tazeen Akhtar 
