Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev signed a protocol on Thursday for enhancing bilateral trade between their countries to $2bn within the next five years.
This was one of the several agreements reached between the two sides on the first day of President Mirziyoyev’s two-day visit to Pakistan.
MoUs and agreements
Earlier, it was announced at the ceremony, which was broadcast live on television, that 28 agreements and memoranda of understanding (MoU) had been signed between the two countries. Twenty documents pertaining to these deals were exchanged in the presence of PM Shehbaz and Uzbek President Mirziyoyev.
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”.
‘Deep-rooted relations’
Addressing the ceremony, 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 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 also your great contribution in promoting peace, progress and prosperity in neighbouring countries,” the premier said.
The Uzbek president was awarded that honourary degree and title earlier at the ceremony.
PM Shehbaz also congratulated Mirziyoyev on being awarded the Nishan-i-Pakistan, the country’s highest civil honour, for his “services and contributions to converting friendly relations into economic cooperation, trade, and investment in various sectors”.
“I think, Mr President, if we had a bigger title and award, you’d have been the fittest participant for that award [as well],” PM Shehbaz remarked.
He further stated that “Pakistan and Uzbekistan have deep-rooted historical, spiritual and cultural relations, connected by the ancient Silk Route, spanning over centuries.”
In this connection, PM Shehbaz also mentioned the legacy of the Mughal empire and intellectuals from Samarkand and Bukhara.
“These historical facts provide a very sound foundation of our durable relations and a very bright future,” he emphasised, thanking Mirziyoyev for his “leadership, vision and commitment to take these relations to heights not known till this point in time”
The premier also expressed his gratitude for the hospitality he received during a visit to Uzbekistan last February, but apologised if anything was lacking in the visiting leader’s reception.
“Obviously, we could not surpass your warmth, but if we can match your warmth, we have earned our day,” PM Shehbaz stated.
He added that the inaugural meeting of a high-level strategic cooperation council took place earlier today, adding, “This structured mechanism heralds a very bright future for both our brotherly countries and people”.
“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.
Addressing Mirziyoyev, PM Shehbaz said, “I know for a fact, without a ray of flattery at all, that you are a man of action. You speak less and you act more.
“Today’s signing of this protocol … is a great manifestation of our commitment to work together, enhance and expand our economic relations in the fields of agriculture, pharmaceuticals, textiles, leather, leather shoes, tourism, IT and so on and so forth,” he added.
Moreover, the premier spoke about a working group that would be constituted between Islamabad and Tashkent, which “will work day in day out to chart out a five-year plan which will cover all spheres of our economic activity”.
He mentioned that Haroon Akhtar, Minister of State for Industries and Production, would represent Pakistan on the committee.
“This will be a game changer. This will really move towards a cooperation which the world will not have observed before,” the premier maintained.
Both leaders also agreed to quarterly review meetings to assess the performance and progress of this arrangement.
“Instead of having Zoom meetings, Mr President, let’s put protocols and formalities aside; I will, with my delegation, land in Tashkent, drive straight to your office, have a two-hour working session and return,” PM Shehbaz said, suggesting that for the meeting after, the Uzbek president and his delegation could come to Islamabad for the review meeting and leave the same day.
“This will be a sure and guaranteed forum to have great achievements and dividends for times to come,” he stated.
Additionally, the premier expressed delight that Uzbekistan was part of the Board of Peace initiative, chaired by United States President Donald Trump.
“Together, hopefully, we will, under the chairmanship of President Trump, have long-lasting peace in Gaza, its reconstruction and hopefully materialise the two-state solution of Palestine,” PM Shehbaz said.
“We thank you also for your support to the cause of the people of Kashmir, and together, we will work for peace and prosperity, not only for our two countries but for the region.”
‘Time-tested and reliable partner and closest friend’
Taking the podium, Mirziyoyev declared that Pakistan was Uzbekistan’s “time-tested and reliable partner and closest friend” in south Asia.
“I’d like to specifically outline that Pakistan, which is developing very rapidly, is achieving higher and higher results and showing that a modern Pakistan can achieve a high level of development,” the Uzbek president said.
He lauded large-scale reforms ensuring public welfare and accelerated economic growth are being implemented under PM Shehbaz’s leadership, adding that these achievements “make us very pleased and very happy to acknowledge, since we consider ourselves your closest friends and a brotherly nation”.
The visiting president expressed his sincere gratitude for “accepting us and welcoming us at such a high-level”, noting that a lot was achieved within a short day.
“Especially, I would like to, on the outset, mention that remarkable outcome of the day [is] that I became a professor and doctor at the same time,” he quipped, adding that he would remember today as “a historic day”.
“Today’s date, I can actually mark in my calendar. For my family, this is a remarkable historic day in which we received such a great honour in Pakistan, and I was also awarded the scientific level of professor and doctor,” the Uzbek president added.
Uzbek president’s arrival
Upon his arrival at Nur Khan Airbase the Uzbek president was received by PM Shehbaz and President Asif Ali Zardari.
A post on the President Secretariat’s X account said: “A warm welcome to President Shavkat Mirziyoyev of Uzbekistan! President Asif Ali Zardari and PM Shehbaz received the Uzbek president at Noor Khan Airbase today. This visit marks a significant step in strengthening bilateral ties and regional connectivity.”
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.
It said that the visiting dignitary would meet President Zardari, hold delegation-level talks with PM Shehbaz, and address the Pakistan-Uzbekistan Business Forum.
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.
