ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Uzbekistan on Thursday signed 28 accords and memoranda of understanding (MoUs) to expand bilateral cooperation, marking a significant push to strengthen collaboration in trade, connectivity, and people-to-people exchanges.
The agreements were inked during Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev’s visit to Pakistan, reflecting a shared commitment to elevate relations toward a comprehensive strategic partnership.
A formal signing ceremony was held at the Prime Minister’s House in Islamabad, attended by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, President Mirziyoyev, and senior ministers and officials from both countries.
The accords cover a wide range of sectors, including defence, agriculture, trade, industry, culture, education, disaster management, pharmaceuticals, mining, maritime affairs, information technology, and more. Key highlights include:
- MoU between foreign ministries to enhance diplomatic cooperation
- Protocol to expand goods under the Preferential Trade Agreement
- Establishment of an Inter-Regional Forum
- Defence sector action plan
- Cooperation in climate change mitigation and disaster management
- Food security and agricultural research collaboration
- Plant protection initiatives
- Promotion of sports cooperation
- Measures to curb narcotics and illicit drug smuggling
- Mining and geosciences collaboration
- Transfer of convicted persons between states
- Expansion of information technology, science, education, and cultural heritage cooperation
- Maritime sector and trade facilitation MoU
- Collaboration in pharmaceuticals, textiles, and SME development
- Cooperation in the cultural sector
Addressing the ceremony, PM Shehbaz Sharif welcomed the Uzbek president and his delegation, congratulating him on being awarded honorary professorship and doctorate degrees, as well as Pakistan’s highest civil award, Nishan-e-Pakistan. The prime minister said the conferment reflected the close fraternal ties between the two nations.
He noted that historical bonds and steady growth in relations underscored a bright future for Pakistan-Uzbekistan ties. PM Shehbaz highlighted co-chairing the inaugural meeting of the high-level strategic cooperation council and reaffirmed his commitment to promoting regional connectivity.
On economic cooperation, the premier described the protocol to increase bilateral trade as an important milestone and stressed the need to explore opportunities in information technology, agriculture, textiles, and other sectors under a five-year joint action plan. Quarterly meetings will review progress on the working plan.