Prime Minister Imran Khan on Thursday welcomed the Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev at the tarmc upon his arrival at the Nur Khan Airbase for a two-day official visit to Pakistan from March 3-4.

The Uzbek president is accompanied by a high-level delegation, comprising the foreign minister, other members of the cabinet, senior government officials, and business and media personnel.

This is the first visit of President Mirziyoyev to Pakistan since assuming office in 2016.

It marks the commemoration of the 30th anniversary of establishment of diplomatic relations between Pakistan and Uzbekistan.

During the visit, the two leaders will review the entire gamut of bilateral relations including cooperation in political, trade and economic, connectivity, education, culture, security and defence domains. They will have a wide-ranging exchange of views on major regional and international issues.

A number of bilateral agreements/MoUs will be signed, according to a communiqué issued by the Foreign Office.

Preferntial Trade Agreement

Pakistan and Uzbekistan will sign a preferential trade agreement this week to lower duties on nearly three-dozen products in the range of 20% to 100% aimed at giving a boost to the trade value that remains very thin despite vast potential, reported .

The PTA covering a total 34 goods may give a boost to the bilateral trade that, according to the State Bank of Pakistan, remained at only $66 million in the last fiscal year. Pakistan had exported $22 million goods as against $40 million imports during fiscal year 2021-22.

High-level meetings

The prime minister will hold a one-on-one meeting with the president of Uzbekistan that would be followed by delegation-level talks and "Joint Media Stakeout". PM Imran will also host a state banquet in his honour. President Mirziyoyev will have separate meeting with President Arif Alvi.

The two sides would focus on enhancing political and strategic linkages; fast tracking trade, transit and economic ties; enhancing connectivity; and promoting educational and cultural collaboration. The Trans-Afghan Railway Project, connecting Pakistan, Uzbekistan and Afghanistan, will be a key area of deliberations. There will also be fruitful interaction with leading businessmen of the two countries.

Pakistan and Uzbekistan are linked through a common faith, shared history and cultural affinities. The two countries have been closely collaborating at regional and international fora, especially at the UN, OIC, ECO and SCO.

Prior to the president’s visit, the two sides are scheduled to hold the 7th Session of Joint Ministerial Commission and 2nd Joint Business Forum in Islamabad on March 2.

Pakistan has enhanced its engagement with Central Asian countries within the framework of “Vision Central Asia” policy, with five key strands: political and diplomatic, trade and investment, energy and connectivity, security and defence, and people-to-people relations.

The Pakistan-Uzbekistan relationship has witnessed an upward trajectory over the past few years. Premier Imran visited Uzbekistan in July 2021. The two leaders also met recently in Beijing on the sidelines of Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony on 5 February 2022.