The deputy prime minister of Uzbekistan, Elyor Ganiev, is arriving in Islamabad today (Monday) on a two-day officials visit. He will be accompanied by a high-level delegation, comprising the deputy ministers for Investment and Foreign Trade and Transport and other senior officials. Elyor Ganiev will hold talks with the Pakistani foreign minister and also meet several federal ministers/advisers, including Railways; Planning, Development and Reforms; National Food Security & Research; Health; Commerce; and BOI. The visit of the Uzbek deputy PM will boost the multi-dimensional cooperation between Pakistan and Uzbekistan in diverse fields. It will reinforce Pakistan’s bilateral ties with Uzbekistan, contribute to building a closer economic partnership, and enhance possibilities for regional connectivity. The visit will also help deepen Pakistan’s engagement with Central Asia. Minister for Planning, Development and Reform Makhdoom Khusro Bakhtiar said on Sunday that joint ventures in various areas could boost regional trade and tourism as well as enhance regional integration. He was talking to Ambassador of Uzbekistan, Furqat Sidiqov, who called on him. Secretary Planning Zafar Hasan, Member Infrastructure and senior officials of the ministry were also present in the meeting. The Uzbek ambassador informed the minister that a proposal for 700 km long railway line is in the pipeline which would pass through Uzbekistan, Russia, Afghanistan and Pakistan. Khusro Bakhtiar said that the project will boost regional trade and connectivity benefiting the member countries. The minister said that other infrastructure projects were also in the pipeline for development of North-South connectivity besides the proposed corridor between Torkham and Dushanbe. He stated that Uzbekistan and Pakistan enjoyed excellent relations and noted with appreciation that bilateral cooperation had increased manifold in various areas. He emphasized the need to explore more possibilities of cooperation and initiate joint ventures in oil and gas, agriculture, food, textile, construction and infrastructure areas.