President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Prime Minister of Pakistan Shehbaz Sharif, held head-to-head talks and between the official delegations on Wednesday, the presidential press service said.
Reportedly, the two leaders commended the high pace of development of the bilateral ties. In 2024, the two-way trade surpassed $400 million, the number of joint ventures reached 130, trading houses were opened in Karachi and Tashkent, and flights between Tashkent and Lahore were resumed.
They emphasized the importance of increasing the trade figures to $2 billion and agreed to adopt a roadmap to achieve this goal.
The leaders outlined extending the list of goods under the Preferential Trade Treaty, simplifying phytosanitary and customs procedures, integrating electronic trading platforms, access to the procurement system and developing interbank settlements as the priority areas for advancing the ties.
They also discussed projects in pharmaceuticals, electrical engineering, the agricultural sector, agricultural machinery, geology, textile and leather industries.
In order to stimulate business and cultural contacts between the provinces, Shavkat Mirziyoyev proposed holding a Forum of Provinces of the two countries in Uzbekistan.
Mirziyoyev and Sharif also focused on the ways to strengthen transport connectivity and unlocking transit potential.
Over the past few years, cargo transportation along the Uzbekistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan corridor has increased 5 fold. they also announced a joint transport and logistics company and promote the Trans-Afghan Railway project.
The parties agreed to hold the next meeting of the Intergovernmental Commission in July this year in Lahore.
The heads of state advocated for boosting tourism and cultural exchange, holding a Culture Week and presenting tourism programs and made a decision to set up a Supreme Council for Strategic Partnership and hold its first meeting next year.
