Official Reception Held in Pakistan to Mark the 35th Anniversary of the State Independence of the Republic of Uzbekistan

An official reception was held at the Mövenpick Hotel in Islamabad to mark the 35th anniversary of the state independence of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

The event was attended by Federal Minister for Energy Sardar Awais Khan Leghari as the chief guest on behalf of the Government of Pakistan. Also attending the reception were Murtaza Solangi, Adviser to the President of Pakistan on Information; Sardar Yasir Ilyas Khan, Adviser to the Prime Minister on Tourism; Rana Ehsan Afzal Khan, Coordinator to the Prime Minister on Industries; and Hamid Asghar Khan, Deputy Foreign Minister.

The event was also attended by members of the Senate and National Assembly of Pakistan, government officials, representatives of the Armed Forces, ambassadors and diplomats, representatives of state and public organizations, academic institutions, expert and analytical circles, business communities and local media, as well as members of the Uzbek diaspora residing in Pakistan.

At the beginning of the event, the national anthems of Uzbekistan and Pakistan were performed by the military band of the Armed Forces of Pakistan.

In his congratulatory address, the Ambassador of Uzbekistan highlighted the historical significance of the country's state independence, emphasizing that its roots go back to the three-thousand-year-old traditions of statehood and the rich civilizational heritage of the Uzbek people.

It was noted that during the years of independence, particularly over the past decade, broad-scale and irreversible reforms have been carried out in Uzbekistan under the leadership of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, with human dignity, rights and interests, as well as the well-being of the population, becoming the key priorities of state policy.

“Uzbekistan's opening up to the world, its significant contribution to strengthening an atmosphere of friendship, good-neighborliness and mutual trust in Central Asia, and the achievements in the fields of the economy, education, healthcare, social protection and investment have brought the country's development to a new stage,” the Ambassador of Uzbekistan said.

It was also emphasized that, thanks to the strong political will and relations based on mutual trust between the leaders of the two countries, Uzbekistan-Pakistan cooperation has reached a qualitatively new stage of strategic partnership. High-level visits, inter-parliamentary and interregional ties, trade and investment cooperation, as well as the expansion of direct air connectivity demonstrate the rapid development of bilateral relations.

In his address, Federal Minister Sardar Awais Khan Leghari conveyed, on behalf of Prime Minister of Pakistan Shehbaz Sharif, his sincere congratulations to President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev, the Government and people of Uzbekistan on the 35th anniversary of the country's state independence.

“Pakistan highly appreciates Uzbekistan's achievements in state-building, socio-economic development and improving the well-being of its people. We wish our brotherly country peace, stability and further prosperity. Pakistan was among the first countries to recognize the independence of Uzbekistan. In particular, we are making extensive preparations to celebrate the 35th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries in May 2027,” the chief guest said.

The speakers at the event emphasized that relations between Pakistan and Uzbekistan are based on historical and cultural ties that have developed over centuries, as well as mutual respect and common interests. It was noted that the visits of Prime Minister of Pakistan Shehbaz Sharif to Uzbekistan in February 2025 and President Shavkat Mirziyoyev to Pakistan in February 2026 gave new impetus to bilateral cooperation.

Political and public figures of Pakistan who attended the reception also extended their sincere congratulations to the President and people of Uzbekistan on Independence Day and wished them success in achieving the priority goals and objectives outlined in the New Uzbekistan Strategy.

As part of the event, a photo exhibition was organized showcasing Uzbekistan's achievements in its political, socio-economic and cultural life, as well as its foreign policy activities, and highlighting the stages of development of Uzbekistan-Pakistan relations. Guests were also presented with traditional Uzbek handicrafts, national costumes and musical instruments.

The festive event continued with a concert program featuring traditional Uzbek music, songs and dances performed by artists of the Central Song and Dance Ensemble of the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Uzbekistan.