By Mehrab Shah Afridi
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Uzbekistan have exchanged 28 agreements and memoranda of understanding covering a wide range of sectors, as the two countries moved to strengthen bilateral cooperation. Prime minister Shehbaz Sharif and Uzbek president Shavkat Mirziyoyev also signed a joint declaration.
The signing ceremony was held at the Prime Minister’s House, where documents were exchanged between the two sides, including a memorandum aimed at enhancing cooperation between their foreign ministries. Agreements were also concluded on the establishment of an inter-regional forum and on the transfer of convicted prisoners between the two countries.
Both sides signed a memorandum to expand cooperation in information technology. Under the preferential trade agreement, a protocol was signed to expand the list of traded goods. An action plan was also agreed to enhance cooperation in the defence sector.
Memoranda were exchanged on cooperation in addressing climate change and natural disasters, as well as agreements on food security and agricultural research. Both countries agreed on a protocol for cooperation in plant protection and signed a memorandum to promote collaboration in sports.
Further agreements covered mining and geosciences, science and education, the protection and research of cultural heritage, maritime cooperation and trade facilitation. The two sides also signed documents to enhance cooperation in the textile sector, support the development of small and medium-sized enterprises, and expand collaboration in cultural fields.
A memorandum was exchanged on cooperation in pharmaceuticals, along with an agreement to prevent the smuggling of narcotic drugs. During the visit, it was also decided to confer an honorary doctorate degree on President Shavkat Mirziyoyev.
