Uzbekistan-Pakistan: strengthening strategic partnership for stability and development

On February 25-26, 2025, Prime Minister of Pakistan Mian Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif will pay an official visit to Uzbekistan.

Turning to the recent history of Uzbek-Pakistan cooperation, it is important to note that Pakistan was one of the first to recognize the independence of Uzbekistan on December 20, 1991, and diplomatic relations were established between our countries on May 10, 1992.

Since then, Uzbekistan and Pakistan have maintained an active political dialogue based on mutual respect and common interests. In recent years, there has been an intensification of interaction at the highest level and an increase in interstate contacts, as a result of which the parties reached strategically important agreements.

Thus, following the results of the official high-level visit to Uzbekistan on July 15-16, 2021, a Joint Declaration on the establishment of a strategic partnership was signed, as well as a significant package of documents covering both traditional and new areas of cooperation.

March 3-4, 2022, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev visited Pakistan on an official visit, during which the heads of the two states signed a Joint Declaration on further steps to develop a strategic partnership between Uzbekistan and the Islamic Republic of Iran. This visit and the business forum that took place within its framework gave a powerful impetus to the dynamics of the development of bilateral relations, expanding the areas of cooperation by signing about 10 documents, as well as reaching agreements on the implementation of joint trade and investment projects.

The intensification of relations between our countries in a bilateral format contributed to the strengthening of mutual support within the framework of multilateral structures such as the UN, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, the Economic Cooperation Organization, and others.

In this context, it is important to note that in 2022, the Prime Minister of Pakistan Shahbaz Sharif also visited our country to participate in the SCO summit, which took place in Samarkand on September 15-16. During the visit, the head of Pakistan met with the President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev. At the meeting, the leaders considered the entire range of issues of bilateral cooperation, primarily in the trade, economic, investment and transport-transit spheres.

Meetings of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev with the leaders of Pakistan at the summits of international organizations not only consolidated commitment to previously reached agreements, but also became evidence of a focus on the sustainability and long-term nature of the Uzbek-Pakistani strategic partnerships.

Inter-parliamentary cooperation plays an important role in strengthening political dialogue. As part of parliamentary diplomacy, friendship groups have been created in the representative bodies of the two countries, which contribute to the development of legislative initiatives aimed at expanding and strengthening bilateral interaction in the trade, economic, cultural and humanitarian spheres. Inter-parliamentary cooperation is enhanced by meetings, mutual visits and participation in international events.

Relations between the departments of Uzbekistan and Pakistan are developing constructively, facilitating the speedy implementation of agreements reached at the highest level on strategically important joint projects.

Thus, to support political dialogue, the foreign ministries of the two countries effectively use the mechanisms of bilateral political consultations, the eighth round of which was held in Tashkent in February 2025, as well as contacts at the sites of major international events.

Fruitful interdepartmental cooperation has also been established in the fields of culture, education, business, transport and logistics, law enforcement, combating terrorism and cross-border crime and other areas.

Uzbekistan and Pakistan, being important actors in their regions and possessing significant resource and human potential, are actively using opportunities to increase trade, economic and investment cooperation.

Stable dynamics of development of interaction in this area was observed despite the pandemic. In particular, bilateral trade volume increased by 50 percent in 2021. In 2024, the volume of mutual trade exceeded $400 million, approaching the goals set by the heads of the two states to bring this figure to $500 million in the near future, and in the future to $1 billion.

An important step was the signing of the Preferential Trade Agreement, signed during the official visit of the head of our state to Pakistan in March 2022, which allows reducing tariff barriers and stimulate bilateral exchange of goods.

At the interregional level, direct contacts between business circles are actively developing, which contributes to the creation of joint ventures in such areas as the textile industry, agriculture, pharmaceuticals and information technology. Today, there are 130 joint ventures with the participation of Pakistani capital operating in Uzbekistan. In the regions of the republic, investment projects have been implemented in partnership with such large Pakistani companies as Novugen Pharma, UP-Match, Pak-Merit Bleaching, Diamond Group, and others in the Syrdarya, Tashkent, Namangan regions and the city of Tashkent.

Evidence of high mutual interest in expanding economic cooperation and cooperation is the intensification of dialogue between the business circles of the two countries, which has been observed recently.

In particular, about 10 bilateral business forums, B2B and G2B meetings, industrial and agricultural exhibitions have been held in Uzbekistan and Pakistan over the past two years and other events aimed at establishing connections and developing joint projects.

Thus, in June 2024, an Uzbek-Pakistani business forum was held in Tashkent, which included the “Made in Pakistan” exhibition and a transport and logistics forum. More than 110 leading Pakistani companies in the textile, chemical, pharmaceutical, medical, household and electrical industries, construction materials and agricultural products presented their products at the exhibition. As a result of this business forum, trade investment agreements worth about $180 million were signed. Within the framework of the transport and logistics forum, issues of intensifying transportation and cargo flows between our regions and countries, creating “green corridors” at border customs points for companies providing services for foreign trade operations, as well as digitalization of customs clearance processes were discussed.

In November 2024, the 9th meeting of the Intergovernmental Uzbek-Pakistan Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific and Technical Cooperation, within the framework of which the Uzbek-Pakistan business forum and meetings in G2B and B2B formats were held.

At the end of November 2024, a business forum was held in Lahore, Pakistan, with the participation of more than 60 entrepreneurs working in the textile industry, leather and wool processing, pharmaceuticals, IT, household appliances, food, paper industry and other industries. During the event, representatives of the Uzbek companies Artel and Imzo made presentations of their products and investment proposals. An agreement was reached with Pakistani partners on the production of household appliances and their export to third countries.

The beginning of this year was also marked by large-scale events. In February 2025, the National Exhibition of Industrial Products “Made in Uzbekistan” was held in the Pakistani city of Lahore, which was attended by a representative delegation of more than 150 entrepreneurs from various fields, led by the leadership of the Ministry of Investment, Industry and Trade of Uzbekistan, as well as more than 500 representatives of the business community of Pakistan.

During the three days of the exhibition, more than 80 thousand visitors learned about national industrial products and opportunities for cooperation. During the event, more than 500 B2B meetings were organized, at which the conclusion of new trade agreements and the implementation of joint projects were discussed. As a result of this exhibition, 181 contracts were signed for a total amount of over 500 million US dollars. Of this, $263 million comes from export trade contracts, and $236 million from import contracts.

One ​​of the key factors influencing the development of economic interaction between our countries is transport connectivity. Therefore, both Uzbekistan and Pakistan pay special attention to the development of transport and logistics cooperation.

Cultural and humanitarian cooperation between our countries is developing on the strong basis of historical ties between the Uzbek and Pakistani peoples, common cultural traditions of the Great Silk Road, Islamic civilization, the legacy of historical figures - Zahiriddin Muhammad Babur and members of his dynasty.

Today the foundation is being laid for the creation of a feature film dedicated to the life of Babur, a native of the Uzbek land, who created a great empire, including the territory of modern Pakistan.

Since 1991, the Uzbekistan-Pakistan Friendship Society has been operating in our country, which regularly organizes cultural and scientific events, exchange of delegations of scientists and cultural figures.

At the Tashkent State University of Oriental Studies throughout For almost 75 years, courses in the Urdu language, literature and history of Pakistan have been taught, which helps to strengthen cultural ties between the two countries.

In Pakistan, projects are currently being implemented to study the Uzbek language and history. Joint cultural events, festivals, exhibitions and forums are regularly held.

In February 2021, the Babur Heritage Center was opened at the Punjab University, where the life and legacy of the great ancestor of our people is studied. In turn, the Alisher Navoi Center has been established at the University of Peshawar, the activities of which contribute to the popularization of Uzbek culture in Pakistan.

Tourist exchanges have intensified, facilitated by direct flights between the cities of the two countries. In Pakistan, interest in sacred places and historical monuments of Uzbekistan is growing. In this regard, the Tourism Information Center of Uzbekistan opened in Islamabad in March 2019, and in 2020, the leader of the Naqshbandiyya order in Pakistan, Sheikh Muhammad Hassan Hasib ur-Rehman, was appointed Ambassador of Uzbekistan for pilgrimage tourism.

Intercultural dialogue is also characterized by high mutual respect and interest in the rich history and heritage of the two peoples.

Thus, a permanent exhibition dedicated to the culture and history of Uzbekistan has opened in the Lok Virsa Museum of Applied Arts in Islamabad since 2022.

Dynamic There has been an exchange of cultural delegations that take part in international events - exhibitions, tourism fairs, seminars, conferences, days of culture and cinema taking place in the two countries.

Pakistan musicians and singers take part in international music festivals in Uzbekistan - “Sharq Taronalari” in Samarkand, the art of maqom and the art of bakhshi in the regions of our republic.

The Pakistani delegation in 2024 took part in international events held on the occasion of the announcement of the city of Shakhrisabz as the tourist capital of the Economic Cooperation Organization.

In turn, at the international “Spring Festival”, held in Islamabad on April 22-24, 2024, the pavilion of Uzbekistan was deployed, which for 3 days introduced visitors to the rich historical and cultural heritage and tourism potential of our country.

Thus, we can confidently state that Uzbek-Pakistan relations continue to develop dynamically, covering the political, economic, cultural and humanitarian spheres. The coincidence of strategic interests, especially in matters of regional security and transport and logistics cooperation, makes these relations promising and mutually beneficial. In this context, the upcoming visit of the Prime Minister of Pakistan to our country will be an important milestone in the development of political dialogue, strengthening economic ties and expanding partnerships in key areas, including trade, transport, energy and security. It will not only confirm the desire of Uzbekistan and Pakistan to strengthen the strategic partnership, but will also open up new prospects for long-term and mutually beneficial cooperation, contributing to the stability and development of the entire region.

IA “Dunyo”