By Zahid Karani
ISLAMABAD: In a notable display of growing bilateral relations, Aybek Arif Usmanov, the Ambassador of the Republic of Uzbekistan to Pakistan, highlighted the deepening strategic partnership between Uzbekistan and Pakistan during the celebration of Uzbekistan’s 33rd Independence Day in Islamabad. The ceremony, which attracted dignitaries, diplomats, and military officials, underscored the flourishing ties between the two nations.
Ambassador Usmanov emphasized that the partnership has evolved from genuine collaboration to a strategic alliance, particularly over the last three years. He noted that personal interactions between Uzbekistan’s President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Pakistani leaders, including Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, President Asif Ali Zardari, and Chief of Army Staff Gen Asim Munir, have significantly strengthened various cooperative initiatives. These interactions have enhanced trade, industrial projects, technological advancements, and active military collaboration.
The ambassador elaborated on the proactive economic diplomacy agreed upon by Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar and Uzbek Minister Bakhtiar Saidov. This diplomacy is evident in the implementation of 74 joint bilateral agreements and memoranda of understanding (MOUs), aimed at furthering multifaceted cooperation. President Mirziyoyev’s address on the independence anniversary highlighted significant economic progress, including a 6.4 percent GDP growth in 2024, an increase in foreign direct investments by 37 percent to $22 billion, and an 8.5 percent rise in foreign trade turnover to $45 billion.
Mirziyoyev’s message underscored the commitment to enhancing regional connectivity in various sectors such as textiles, pharmaceuticals, renewable energy, agriculture, IT logistics, and more. A major focus is the Uzbekistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan railway project, a significant infrastructure initiative aimed at bolstering connectivity. The establishment of a new project office in Tashkent and a recent trilateral meeting in Islamabad have marked progress, with a protocol signed on feasibility studies, financing, and construction.
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