PM Imran Khan upon the invitation of Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev has arrived in Uzbekistan. He was warmly greeted by the Prime Minister Abdullah Aripov. In his two-day official visit several business deals and trade agreements are to be signed. For this purpose a high-level delegation, including the Foreign Minister and other members of the Cabinet will be accompanying the Prime Minister. Along with the government entourage a large group of Pakistan’s leading businessmen will also visit Tashkent on the occasion.
Apart from regional peace, the official visit to Uzbekistan can improve Pakistan’s economy as well as bilateral ties. Pakistan and Uzbekistan are to sign Transit and Preferential Trade Agreements. In this context, they have agreed to allocate dedicated spaces in Gwadar and Tashkent for establishing warehouses to help each other in the transportation of goods to other regional countries.
In this regard, Abdul Razak Dawood (Advisor for Commerce, Textile, Industry and Production) said, “It has been an eventful year for Pakistan and Uzbekistan’s trade relations”. He further added, the improvement in bilateral trade relations with Tashkent can enhance Pakistan’s exports to the Central Asian region, which has a trade potential of $90 billion.
Furthermore, it can open the gateway to Central Asia as it shares borders with Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Afghanistan and in return seaport can be offered to the landlocked country for trade. It can also prove to be beneficial in terms of bringing peace to the region. The Pakistan-Afghanistan-Uzbekistan railway project will bring stability to the region. A number of agreements and MoUs aimed at deepening bilateral cooperation in diverse fields are expected to be signed during the visit. Further, the PM will take part in the business forum and exchange views on regional and international issues of mutual interest.
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