Uzbekistan and Pakistan intend to significantly strengthen economic relations by increasing the volume of mutual trade to $1 billion, reports the press service of the President of Uzbekistan.
Earlier, Uzbekistan's Ambassador Alisher Tukhtaev held talks with Pakistan’s President Asif Ali Zardari to discuss prospects for bilateral cooperation, including economic and cultural areas.
One of the priorities for both countries is to expand economic ties.
In this context, measures were discussed to simplify the visa regime and resume direct flights between Tashkent and Lahore, which is expected to facilitate interaction and strengthen cultural contacts between the two countries.
In September, Pakistan joined an international memorandum on the creation of a transport corridor linking Central and South Asia with ports on the Indian Ocean.
The route will pass through Russia, Kazakhstan, and Afghanistan, ensuring the fast movement of goods between Uzbekistan and its partners. This project, signed by Russia, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan in the fall of 2023, has also gained support from Belarus and Pakistan.
Afghanistan, in turn, intends to complete internal procedures to join the project.
It is reported that the launch of the transport corridor will speed up international freight transport and open new prospects for trade cooperation, further strengthening Uzbekistan’s economic ties with Pakistan and other participating countries.
CentralasianLIGHT.org
October 30, 2024