Sign multiple agreements to strengthen cooperation; Joint working group to formulate action plan
President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif receive President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev at Nur Khan base in Rawalpindi. Photo: APP
ISLAMABAD:
Pakistan and Uzbekistan on Thursday agreed to enhance bilateral trade to $2 billion over the next five years.
In this regard, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev signed a protocol in Islamabad to enhance bilateral trade and economic cooperation between the two countries.
The two countries also signed a series of agreements aimed at enhancing bilateral cooperation in various fields, including defence, agriculture, trade, industry, culture, education, disaster management, pharmaceuticals and others.
According to the protocol, the two sides will constitute a joint working group to formulate an action plan to identify sectors to enhance bilateral trade and economic cooperation through mutual consultations.
Both leaders witnessed the ceremony held at the Prime Minister’s House, while ministers and officials from both sides exchanged the agreement documents.
Among the key pacts, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the Medicines Regulatory Authority of Pakistan and the Pharmaceutical Industry Development Agency of Uzbekistan to enhance cooperation in pharmaceuticals and regulatory functions.
The Sports Board of Pakistan and the Ministry of Sports of Uzbekistan signed a Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation in sports and physical culture.
To enhance trade ties, Minister of Commerce Jam Kamal Khan and Minister of Investment, Industry and Trade of Uzbekistan Laziz Kudratov signed a Protocol on Expanding the List of Products under the Preferential Trade Agreement, along with an Agreement on the Establishment of the Pakistan-Uzbekistan Interregional Forum, aimed at strengthening regional and business-to-business cooperation.
In the defense sector, Defense Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif and Uzbek Defense Minister Shukhrat Khalmukhammedov signed an Action Plan for Defense Cooperation. The two sides also concluded a Memorandum of Understanding in the fields of Ecology, Climate Change and Disaster Risk Reduction, as well as an MoU on Mutual Cooperation in Disaster Management, underlining the growing collaboration in non-traditional security areas.
The Government of Pakistan and the Government of Uzbekistan signed a cooperation agreement to combat illicit trafficking in narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and their precursors. The document was signed by the Minister of State for the Interior, Talal Chaudhary, on behalf of Pakistan, and on the Uzbek side, Abdulaziz Kamilov, advisor to the President of Uzbekistan on foreign policy.
In the field of information technology and digital cooperation, Minister of Information Technology and Telecommunication Shaza Fatima Khawaja and Minister of Investment, Industry and Trade of Uzbekistan Laziz Kudratov signed a Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication of Pakistan and the Ministry of Digital Technologies of Uzbekistan. The agreement aims to promote collaboration in digital infrastructure, innovation and technology exchange.
In the field of agriculture and food security, a cooperation agreement was signed between the Ministry of National Food Security and Research of Pakistan and the Ministry of Agriculture of Uzbekistan. Additional protocols on phytosanitary protection and phytosanitary requirements for agricultural exports were also concluded.
In the area of trade facilitation and maritime cooperation, an MoU was signed to promote maritime trade and preferential port arrangements at Karachi, Gwadar and Qasim ports.
Agreements were also signed to promote industrial cooperation and small and medium-sized businesses.
Several MoUs focused on culture, heritage and education, including agreements on preservation and promotion of cultural heritage and cooperation between national heritage and cultural institutions.
Both sides also signed memorandums of understanding between academic and research institutions, including the University of Peshawar and the Tashkent State University of Oriental Studies, and between the two countries’ leading strategic and regional studies institutes.
Agreements were also concluded to strengthen municipal and business cooperation, including partnerships between the city administrations of Peshawar and Termez, the city administrations of Islamabad and Samarkand, and the establishment of a Uzbekistan-Pakistan Joint Business Council between the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry and its Uzbek counterpart.
visit GIDS
President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev along with senior ministers paid an official visit to Global Industrial and Defense Solutions (GIDS) as part of his official tour to Pakistan.
Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defense Forces Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir warmly received the President and the delegation and led them through the facility visit, according to a press release issued by Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR).
During the visit, the President was briefed on GIDS’ diverse portfolio spanning advanced defense solutions, industrial capabilities and technological innovations.
The delegation toured key facilities and witnessed various defense products reflecting Pakistan’s growing expertise in local defense production and industrial development.
Doctorate
The National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST) on Thursday conferred the honorary doctorate of Philosophy and the title of professor on the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, in recognition of his extraordinary leadership and contributions in strengthening bilateral cooperation between Pakistan and Uzbekistan.
(With additional contributions from News Desk)
