PM tells Uzbek president will work closely on regional connectivity, terms trans-Afghan rail project ‘game changer’

By Sabeeh Zanair :

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Thursday that Pakistan would work “very closely” with Uzbekistan on regional connectivity, highlighting that the Uzbekistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan would be a “game changer”.

“I want to assure you that I will work very closely with you for regional connectivity, as we both are in total agreement that the Uzbekistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan rail project will be a game changer, not only for our countries but for the entire region.

“And in that, we are ready to join hands and work together to raise funds for this project on the basis of our feasibility and business plan,” he said.

The premier gave this assurance to Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, who is on a two-day visit to Pakistan, at a ceremony held in Islamabad for the exchange of documents pertaining to agreements and memoranda of understanding (M0U) signed between the two countries.

PM Shehbaz expressed his delight that the Uzbek president and his delegation visited Islamabad, his “second home”, for the second time in four years.

“I would like to avail of this opportunity, my dear brother, Mr President, to congratulate you for being awarded the degree of professor and doctor by NUST University Islamabad, for your meritorious services, your unwavering dedication and your commitment to serve not only our brothers and sisters in Uzbekistan, but your great contribution in promoting peace, progress and prosperity in neighbouring countries,” the premier said.

He also congratulated Mirziyoyev on being awarded the Nishan-i-Pakistan, the country’s highest civil honour, for his services and contributions to convert friendly relations into economic cooperation, trade, and investment in various sectors.

MoUs and agreements

The agreements and memoranda signed between the two sides covered several areas, including an action plan for defence cooperation, ecology climate change and disaster risk reduction, disaster management, cooperation in agriculture, protocol on sanitary requirements for exports of fruits, cooperation in the area of mining and geosciences, transfer of sentenced persons and cooperartion on combatting drug trafficking.

At the ceremony, an honourary degree of Doctorate of Philosophy and honourary title of professor was conferred on the Uzbek president in recognition of his “exceptional contributions […] towards fostering strong bilateral ties between Pakistan and Uzbekistan and promoting peace and development in the region”.

Uzbek president’s arrival

According to state-run APP, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar and Special Assistant to the PM on Industry and Production Haroon Akhtar were also present at the Nur Khan Airbase to welcome the Uzbek president.

Mirziyoyev was welcomed with a 21-gun salute, the APP report said.

It added that a smartly turned out contingent of the Pakistan armed forces presented a static salute to the visiting dignitary, and the tri-services band also delivered a performance.

The Foreign Office (FO) earlier said that the Uzbek president was undertaking the official visit to Pakistan at the invitation of PM Shehbaz.

In its statement, the FO said that the President Mirziyoyev would lead a high-level delegation comprising cabinet ministers and business leaders.

The FO added that this was the Uzbek president’s second visit to Pakistan, as he had last visited Pakistan in 2022.

The visit “reflects the upward trajectory in Pakistan-Uzbekistan bilateral relations and the brotherly ties between the two brotherly countries, rooted in common history, faith and common aspirations for peace and prosperity in Central and South Asia”, it said.

Pakistan and Uzbekistan have strengthened ties through trade and economic cooperation. A $1 billion trade deal was signed in 2023, and plans for further collaboration, including a roadmap for industrial cooperation, show the two sides’ commitment to boosting regional connectivity.

Last month, the two countries agreed to expand bilateral trade to $2 billion as PM Shehbaz met with President Mirziyoyev in Tashkent.

The Embassy of Uzbekistan said last week that President Mirziyoyev’s visit to Pakistan was expected to mark a new phase in bilateral relations.

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