ISLAMABAD: Uzbekistan and Pakistan are entering a new and promising era of strategic partnership, with both countries committed to expanding bilateral trade, connectivity, investment and people-to-people contacts, Ambassador of Uzbekistan to Pakistan has said.Addressing a reception in Islamabad to mark the 35th anniversary of the Independence of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the ambassador said the friendship between the two brotherly nations was rooted in centuries of shared history, culture, faith and traditions and was now being transformed into a strong modern partnership based on mutual trust and common interests.
Federal Minister for Energy Sardar Awais Ahmad Khan Leghari attended the ceremony as the chief guest, along with parliamentarians, diplomats, ambassadors, high commissioners, government officials and representatives of the business and cultural communities.The Uzbek ambassador thanked Minister Leghari for attending the event, saying his presence reflected Pakistan’s respect for Uzbekistan and its commitment to further strengthening bilateral relations.The ambassador highlighted Uzbekistan’s rich historical and cultural heritage, noting that the country had been home to an ancient civilization spanning more than three thousand years and had produced renowned scholars and thinkers including Muhammad al-Khwarizmi, Ahmad al-Fergani, Abu Rayhan al-Biruni, Abu Ali ibn Sina, Mirzo Ulugbek and Alisher Navoi.
He also recalled the legacy of Amir Temur, describing his state as an important chapter in world history and emphasizing that Uzbekistan’s heritage was not only the property of the Uzbek people but also an important part of the shared heritage of the Muslim world.The ambassador said that since independence in 1991, Uzbekistan had continued to build upon its historical foundations while pursuing a modern, open and prosperous future.He particularly highlighted the reforms undertaken during the past decade under the leadership of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, saying the interests, dignity and well-being of the people remained at the centre of state policy.According to the ambassador, Uzbekistan’s poverty rate has declined from 35 per cent in 2017 to around 4 per cent, while more than 650,000 families have become owners of modern homes. He said major progress had also been made in preschool and school education, while the number of university students had increased to approximately 1.6 million.
The ambassador said Uzbekistan was simultaneously investing in science, innovation and modern technology while preserving the country’s Islamic and cultural heritage.He referred to the Centre of Islamic Civilization in Tashkent and renewed memorial complexes dedicated to prominent Islamic scholars, including Imam al-Bukhari, as important institutions for promoting the peaceful, tolerant and humanistic values of Islam to the international community.Turning to bilateral relations, the ambassador said ties between Pakistan and Uzbekistan were currently passing through one of their most active periods.He recalled the recent high-level exchanges between the two countries, including the visit of Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif to Uzbekistan and President Shavkat Mirziyoyev’s State Visit to Pakistan in February 2026, saying the visits had opened a new chapter in bilateral relations.He said the establishment of the High-Level Council of Strategic Partnership had provided a strong institutional framework for taking cooperation between the two countries to a new level.During President Mirziyoyev’s state visit to Pakistan, he said, 30 bilateral documents were signed covering a wide range of areas of mutual interest.
The ambassador also welcomed Pakistan’s decision to confer its highest civil award, Nishan-e-Pakistan, upon President Mirziyoyev, describing it as a sincere expression of Pakistan’s respect for the Uzbek president and the special relationship between the two countries.He said the close relationship and mutual trust between President Mirziyoyev and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif were playing an important role in driving bilateral relations forward.Referring to the recent meeting between the two leaders on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Bishkek, the ambassador said they had reaffirmed their commitment to implementing existing agreements and further strengthening the strategic partnership.He congratulated Pakistan on assuming the chairmanship of the SCO and Economic Cooperation Organisation (ECO), saying Uzbekistan was ready to work closely with Pakistan during its chairmanships.He said Uzbekistan would support Pakistan’s efforts to strengthen unity within the two organizations, promote practical cooperation and advance peace, stability and sustainable development in the region.
The ambassador said relations between the parliaments of the two countries were also gaining momentum, while the leadership of both countries had set an ambitious target of increasing bilateral trade to $2 billion within the next five years.He said both sides were working to achieve the target by expanding contacts between business communities, encouraging investment projects, establishing trade houses, strengthening banking cooperation and facilitating the movement of goods between the two countries.Connectivity, he said, remained a key pillar of the growing relationship.The ambassador noted that only two years ago there had been no direct air connectivity between Pakistan and Uzbekistan. Today, regular passenger flights connect Tashkent with Islamabad and Lahore, while direct cargo flights have also been introduced.He said new routes, including flights to Karachi, were being added and the number of weekly flights was expected to reach nine by October 2026, further facilitating business, tourism and people-to-people exchanges.The ambassador described the proposed Uzbekistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan railway as one of the most important projects for the future of the region.He said Uzbekistan viewed the railway as more than a transportation project, describing it as a potential bridge between Central and South Asia that could connect markets, generate employment, expand trade and contribute to peace and shared prosperity across the region.”Pakistan has a special place in the foreign policy of Uzbekistan,” the ambassador said, stressing that Uzbekistan regarded Pakistan not only as an important regional partner but also as a brotherly country sharing a common vision of peace, connectivity and development.
He assured that the Uzbek Embassy in Islamabad would continue working closely with the Pakistani government, Parliament, business community, cultural organizations and people to translate the political commitment of the two countries’ leadership into tangible benefits for their peoples.The reception also featured traditional Uzbek cuisine and a cultural programme showcasing Uzbek music, singing and dance.The ambassador said the event was intended to bring a small part of Uzbekistan’s culture, traditions and renowned hospitality to Islamabad and expressed hope that Pakistani guests would experience not only Uzbek food and music but also the warmth of the Uzbek people and their sincere friendship towards Pakistan.Concluding his address, the ambassador said the 35 years of Uzbekistan’s independence had demonstrated that when the people and state worked together toward a common goal, “nothing is impossible.
“He expressed the hope that the friendship between Uzbekistan and Pakistan would continue from generation to generation and that the two countries would always stand together in friendship, prosperity and brotherhood.”May peace, progress and prosperity always be with our two brotherly countries,” he said.The ceremony concluded with slogans celebrating Uzbekistan’s independence and the enduring friendship between Pakistan and Uzbekistan.Pakistan-Uzbekistan friendship hamesha zindabad.
