Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev signed a protocol on Thursday for enhancing bilateral trade between their countries to $2bn within the next five years.
This was one of the several agreements reached between the two sides on the first day of President Mirziyoyev’s two-day visit to Pakistan.
Earlier, it was announced at the ceremony, which was broadcast live on television, that 28 agreements and memoranda of understanding (MoU) had been signed between the two countries. Twenty documents pertaining to these deals were exchanged in the presence of PM Shehbaz and Uzbek President Mirziyoyev.
The agreements and memoranda signed between the two sides covered several areas, including an action plan for defence cooperation, ecology climate change and disaster risk reduction, disaster management, cooperation in agriculture, protocol on sanitary requirements for exports of fruits, cooperation in the area of mining and geosciences, transfer of sentenced persons and cooperartion on combatting drug trafficking.
At the ceremony, an honourary degree of Doctorate of Philosophy and honourary title of professor was conferred on the Uzbek president.
Addressing the ceremony, PM Shehbaz stated that “Pakistan and Uzbekistan have deep-rooted historical, spiritual and cultural relations, connected by the ancient Silk Route, spanning over centuries.”
“These historical facts provide a very sound foundation of our durable relations and a very bright future,” he emphasised, thanking Mirziyoyev for his “leadership, vision and commitment to take these relations to heights not known till this point in time”
The premier also expressed his gratitude for the hospitality he received during a visit to Uzbekistan last February, but apologised if anything was lacking in the visiting leader’s reception.
“Obviously, we could not surpass your warmth, but if we can match your warmth, we have earned our day,” PM Shehbaz stated.
He added that the inaugural meeting of a high-level strategic cooperation council took place earlier today, adding, “This structured mechanism heralds a very bright future for both our brotherly countries and people”.
“I want to assure you that I will work very closely with you for regional connectivity, as we both are in total agreement that the Uzbekistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan rail project will be a game changer, not only for our countries but for the entire region.
“And in that, we are ready to join hands and work together to raise funds for this project on the basis of our feasibility and business plan,” he said.
Addressing Mirziyoyev, PM Shehbaz said, “I know for a fact, without a ray of flattery at all, that you are a man of action. You speak less and you act more.
“Today’s signing of this protocol … is a great manifestation of our commitment to work together, enhance and expand our economic relations in the fields of agriculture, pharmaceuticals, textiles, leather, leather shoes, tourism, IT and so on and so forth,” he added.
Moreover, the premier spoke about a working group that would be constituted between Islamabad and Tashkent, which “will work day in day out to chart out a five-year plan which will cover all spheres of our economic activity”.
“This will be a game changer. This will really move towards a cooperation which the world will not have observed before,” the premier maintained.