Uzbekistan’s ambassador to Pakistan, Alisher Tukhtaev, has announced plans for a new direct flight route between Uzbekistan and Karachi, with the aim of strengthening ties between both nations.
This important development comes as part of ongoing efforts to improve regional connectivity and foster closer economic cooperation.
During his official visit to Karachi from January 2 to 4, Tukhtaev addressed key business and trade groups including Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) and Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI).
He highlighted the deep cultural and historical ties between Uzbekistan and Pakistan, reinforced by shared religious and cultural ties.
“Our two nations are more united than ever thanks to the realization of the long-awaited vision of regional connectivity,” commented Ambassador Tukhtaev, emphasizing the importance of continued strategic and economic collaboration between the two countries.
A key part of improving ties is Uzbekistan’s recent implementation of a flexible visa regime for Pakistani citizens, introduced in September 2023. This measure aims to facilitate business and tourist travel.
Additionally, the recent launch of direct flights between Tashkent and Lahore complements the new Karachi route, further cementing Uzbekistan’s commitment to people-to-people connections.
The ambassador also provided an update on the growing trade relations between Uzbekistan and Pakistan, noting that mutual trade has more than tripled in the last five years, reaching $387 million in 2023, up from $122 million in 2019. .
Tukhtaev identified several key sectors with untapped potential for further collaboration, including textiles, pharmaceuticals, leather, food processing and agribusiness.
Reflecting on the success of the “Made in Pakistan” exhibition in Tashkent in June 2023, Tukhtaev announced plans for a “Made in Uzbekistan” exhibition in Karachi later this year.
This event is expected to encourage greater economic exchanges and open new avenues for trade and investment between the two nations.
The Ambassador also invited KCCI to send a delegation to Uzbekistan to explore investment opportunities, particularly in the regions of Bukhara, Sirdarya, Surkhondarya and Kashkadarya.
He assured the full support of the Embassy of Uzbekistan to facilitate government-to-business (G2B) and business-to-business (B2B) meetings during such visits.
“Uzbekistan offers a safe, conducive and liberal environment for investment,” he added, urging Pakistani companies to take advantage of the numerous opportunities in sectors where Sindh excels.
Tukhtaev also welcomed the idea of organizing B2B meetings together with business delegations to further boost trade and investment prospects.
Ambassador Tukhtaev’s visit underscored Uzbekistan and Pakistan’s shared commitment to promoting regional connectivity, strengthening economic partnerships and fostering deeper bilateral ties.
