Dr Mehmood Ul Hassan Khan
President: The Center for Knowledge and Public Policy , Regional Expert: Uzbekistan, China, CPEC, BRI & World Affairs
My book ” Shavkat Mirziyoyev : Great Leader of Reforms and Regional Integration ” is a joint publication of “The Center for South Asia and International Studies” and “The Center for Knowledge and Public Policy”. It has total pages of 442, words, 150,234, characters 1,017,00, paragraphs 4541 and lines 16,602 vividly reflecting momentous stature. It has nine chapters.
Interestingly, annual GDP growth has averaged between 5 and 6 percent since the reform drive began, and the national poverty rate has fallen to 8.9 percent which may be surpassed to 6 percent.
Uzbekistan is now in the final stages of its World Trade Organization (WTO) accession process, with a goal of joining by 2026, a move that could further open its economy and deepen global ties.
It is the first of its kind in Pakistan which covers more than 39 different subjects pertaining to the Republic of Uzbekistan’s economy, society, system, governance, leadership, structural reforms, national development strategies and last but not least regional connectivity.
I would like to share that the idea of writing a comprehensive book was discussed one year ago. It is not about “I” or “Me” it has been about “We” and “US” because all the topics have been selected through consultative mechanisms with three primer think tanks of Uzbekistan along with valuable inputs of its Foreign Ministry. It has been a byproduct of complete secrecy, constant close liaison and joint collaborative efforts of all of us.
I am personally thankful to the Embassy of Uzbekistan, H.E. Ali Sher the ambassador and the entire team who worked tirelessly to overcome all hurdles in the completion of this book. I am also thankful to all the Prime Think Tanks of Uzbekistan and MOFA for their extended cooperation and coordination. Last but not least I am thankful to Major General Khalid Amir Jaffari, the president of our Think Tank for his unwavering faith in my capabilities.
Interestingly it has 39 different subjects/topics relating to macro-economy, national development strategies, financial reforms, poverty eradication and generation of new jobs, regional connectivity, foreign policy, good governance, politicization, democratization, constitutional evolutionary journey, culture diplomacy and last but not least bilateral relations with Pakistan.
It is indeed a complete book and of course a “Missing Link” for the further strengthening of Pak-Uzbek bilateral relations in the right direction. It is full of workable solutions, suggestions and recommendations gearing Uzbekistan’s economy, society and system towards greater stability, sustainability, progress, prosperity and peaceful resolutions.
It is not all about “Appeasement Management Doctrine” because it always achieves short term gains and grains but for securing a long term sustainable success voices of genuine scholars, experts and strategists must be heard and respected for a progressive society, liberal economy, people’s centric governance, financial decentralization, qualitative industrialization, modernization and connectivity.
The book based on a holistic and comprehensive scheme has covered all secrets of human survival, societal strivings towards economic self-reliance, national resistance and above all strategic vision of leadership in shape of H.E. Shavkat Mirziyoyev the President of Uzbekistan. It diminished storytelling and stereotype presentation and self-calming of senior expert syndrome.
Therefore, the author rightly submits that the policy makers of Uzbekistan must keep pushing on structural reforms: modernizing utilities, improving education, expanding broadband access, and ensuring transparent public investment. These efforts will determine whether the current boom can evolve into long-term, sustainable prosperity.
It is a narration of economic liberalization, institutionalization of Foreign Direct Investments, journey from centralization to decentralization, connectivity and immense people’s welfare. It has transcended journey of centuries into a book which provides suggestions to transform ancient civilization, traditions and culture into cashable commodities through a complete scheme of arrangement, brotherhood into a best practiced model of doing business and last but not least similarities into ships of socio-economic integration, industrial cooperation, joint ventures and development of productive channels.
Obviously, this miraculous socio-economic development did not happen by chance. Since President Shavkat Mirziyoyev came to power in 2016, Uzbekistan has pursued a series of market-oriented reforms to dismantle decades of economic isolation and stagnation. The government unified the exchange rate, lifted currency restrictions, and simplified customs and tax rules. It began privatizing state enterprises, liberalizing trade, and reducing barriers to foreign business.
It is not all about its folks and fairy tales, rather it is all about converting these treasures into the “Human Libraries Model” commonly uses in most of the modern countries and communities around the globe to attract more and more regional as well as global tourists. Hence it is about “Figures” which speak by themselves, mitigating all false, fake and fabricated propaganda about Uzbekistan’s economy, society and system.
I also appreciate policy suggestions of Ansar Bhatti, Tazeen Akhtar, Riaz Ahmed, Shams Abbasi, Safeer Hussain Shah and last but not least Muhammad Ramzan for their unconditional support and commitment to jointly work for the further strengthening of bilateral relations. They are doing a great job in the sphere of “Public Diplomacy”. And Media Diplomacy in the country which should be highly appreciated.
I humbly request all of you to please rise above your claims of “Islamabad as your Ancestral Property and let us work jointly for the further strengthening of Pakistan’s soft image and bilateral ties because pure talent, intellect, good human spirit and wisdom is a universal commodity. So stay blessed and connected.
Finally, it is suggested that Pakistan and Uzbekistan should focus on the creation of joint ventures in sectors such as the textile industry, garments, fashion industry, agriculture, pharmaceuticals, and information technology. Interestingly, now there are 130 joint ventures operating in Uzbekistan with Pakistani capital participation.
It is submitted that policy makers of both countries should start thinking detouring Afghanistan for their ultimate connectivity, socio-economic integration, exports, e-commerce, human capital development, industrial cooperation and promote their trade through Gwadar-Kasghar-Khorgos axis guaranteeing a sustained, peaceful and easy trading system in the days to come.
Since Uzbekistan is a great “Sporting” nation having passions and expertise in boxing, judokas, taekwondo, long tennis, football and rugby, joint ventures of these sports’ equipment would be a win-win situation for both the countries.
Both countries enjoy strategic partnership status, which would be further strengthened through involvement of the private sector, building of reciprocal trade houses, building of model manufacturing, industrial, hybrid agriculture units on the “Model of Singapore or China” in their respective countries.
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There is an urgent need to follow a “paradigm shift” from mere focusing on transit trade, cosmetic chambers of commerce meetings and photogenic economic interactive sessions. A new innovative, integrated and digitalized model of economic integration, industrial cooperation, investment and joint ventures are the need of the hour.
It is noted that weakening the mutual banking & financial system is badly hurting sustainable economic, trade and investment cooperation between two countries which must be rectified as soon as possible. Cooperation in Islamic Banking, SMEs, startups and formation of joint regional supply chains would further strengthen bilateral relations.
The dreams of trans-regional connectivity are very much possible in which diversified means of connectivity consisting of rail, transport (NLC TIR services, cluster container facility), freight transportation, Gwadar seaport, and CPEC Phase 2.0 would play an important role in the days to come. Start of commercial cargo would be a value addition in further strengthening of volumes of imports & exports.
I just quote the latest published report of the world bank clearly indicating stability and sustainability of Uzbekistan’s macro-economy which has been rated as one of the five fastest-growing economies in the broader Europe and Central Asia region.
The report projects Uzbekistan’s GDP will expand by about 6.2 percent in 2025 well above the regional average amid an overall slowdown across emerging European and Central Asian markets. Overall regional GDP growth is expected to ease to roughly 2.4percent in 2025, down from 3.7 percent in 2024.
Rising income from abroad and expanding investment at home due to an increasingly investor-friendly climate are the twin engines of Uzbekistan’s boom.
Government spending on infrastructure and industrial projects remains high, and foreign capital is flowing in at record levels. According to Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Investment, Industry and Trade, foreign direct investment reached about US$10 billion in 2024, the highest on record. Projects span energy, agriculture, and information technology, with investors from South Korea, China, the Gulf states, and Europe among the most active.
Uzbekistan’s growth carries weight beyond its borders. As the most populous nation in Central Asia, with approximately 37 million people, its success also supports regional stability and development. A dynamic Uzbek economy strengthens trade routes that link China, South Asia, and Europe through the Middle Corridor, an increasingly important strategic alternative to routes passing through Russia, where Uzbekistan is working to become a central hub connecting East and West.
Uzbekistan’s steady growth provides a measure of political and economic stability along the corridor stretching from the Caspian Sea to western China.
Washington’s C5+1 Platform links the five Central Asian states with the U.S. on trade and energy cooperation. The EU, meanwhile, launched its Global Gateway Initiative in the region to finance sustainable infrastructure, with Brussels and Tashkent signing an Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement in 2022 to strengthen trade and governance ties.
Uzbekistan is entering a new phase of development, with growth no longer driven solely by commodity exports but increasingly by manufacturing, services, and information technology.
The World Bank’s 2025 update notes that structural shifts “toward higher-value sectors” are already visible. Uzbekistan’s trajectory over the next few years will matter not only to its citizens but also to investors and policymakers beyond its borders. A stable, reform-minded, and growing Uzbekistan could help shape a more connected, diversified, and resilient Eurasian economy.
