ISLAMABAD, Feb 2 (APP): Speakers at a round table discussion on Monday said that the upcoming visit of President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, to Pakistan would prove to be a milestone in strengthening bilateral economic, trade, and diplomatic relations, giving a major boost to regional economic integration.
The views were expressed at the “Round Table on the Essence, Content and Significance of the Address by the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, to the Oliy Majlis of the People of Uzbekistan,” organized by the Embassy of Uzbekistan in Islamabad.
The speakers said Pakistan and Uzbekistan are emerging economies of the region, and the Uzbek President’s visit would usher in a new era of bilateral economic cooperation with far-reaching implications for regional connectivity and integration.
Speaking on the occasion, First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan, Bakhromjon Aloev, said that President Mirziyoyev’s upcoming visit to Islamabad would mark a significant step forward in Uzbek–Pakistani relations.
He said both sides were preparing new initiatives covering trade, transport, energy, and digital technologies.
The minister said the visit would open new avenues for bilateral trade and investment, adding that important agreements would be signed to increase bilateral trade volume to $2 billion.
He noted that although current trade volume was still below potential, it had been growing rapidly over the past few years.
The Deputy Foreign Minister said President Mirziyoyev had a long-term vision aimed at promoting regional economic integration. He also informed that tourism from Pakistan to Uzbekistan was continuously increasing, and around 25,000 Pakistani tourists were expected to visit Uzbekistan this year.
Ambassador of Uzbekistan to Pakistan, Alisher Tukhtaev, said that the upcoming visit of President Mirziyoyev would act as a catalyst for bilateral economic and trade relations while enhancing regional integration. He said the launch of direct flights between Pakistan and Uzbekistan was a significant step by the Uzbek government to promote people-to-people contact and regional connectivity.
Highlighting Uzbekistan’s economic progress, the ambassador said the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) had exceeded $145 billion for the first time in its history.
He said exports increased by 23 percent to $33.4 billion, while gold reserves surpassed $60 billion.
He added that foreign investment inflows reached $43.1 billion, with total investment accounting for 31.9 percent of GDP. Economic growth was projected at 6.6 percent, with GDP expected to reach $167 billion.
Director of the South Asia and International Studies Analysis Centre, Gen (R) Syed Khalid Amir Jafri, said that enhanced cooperation between Pakistan and Uzbekistan at economic and security levels was essential and should be further expanded. He said both countries had developed modern security institutions and ongoing reforms would further strengthen them. He emphasized that regional peace was vital for sustainable economic development.
Director of the Common Future Society Think Tank, Khalid Taimur Akram, said that during President Mirziyoyev’s visit, various initiatives related to infrastructure development and regional connectivity would be discussed, and agreements across multiple sectors were expected to be signed.
Appreciating Uzbekistan’s economic progress, he said the country’s rapid growth resembled the Chinese economic miracle and was advancing on a sustainable path. He added that Pakistan’s business community, particularly the infrastructure sector, could play a key role by initiating joint projects in areas such as roads and housing.
He said that if the current momentum on trade targets, transport corridors, and technology partnerships continued, Pakistan-Uzbekistan relations were well-positioned to become a central connector in the emerging framework of regional integration between Central and South Asia.