During a strategically important visit to Islamabad on 5-6 February 2026, the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev and the Prime Minister of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan Shehbaz Sharif reasserted their commitment to increase bilateral trade to $2 billion within the next five years.
This visit has been materialized at a time of regional and global realignments. It has been declared as a landmark not only for strengthening brotherly bilateral relations but also a significant milestone towards a broader regional connectivity. Both countries have already signed a comprehensive strategic agreement and a Preferential Trade Agreement. The visit culminated in a solid package of bilateral agreements, memoranda of understanding, and high-level commitments that reflect a broad agenda covering trade, connectivity, defence, culture, and people-to-people links. It also provided an opportunity for both capitals to expand economic ties and advance their long-term strategic interests.
Expansion of Bilateral Economic Cooperation
To achieve the $2 billion bilateral trade volume target, several agreements have been signed. Of the 28 memoranda of understanding and agreements, trade and cultural cooperation, energy, defence, information technology, health, sports, and education were the most important. Other significant agreements were concluded in the field of security, countering terrorism, agriculture and food security, climate management, narcotics, pharmaceuticals, and industrial cooperation. Discussions about the early materialization of the Trans-Afghan Railway project remained a critical agenda item.
A significant milestone achieved during the visit was the expansion of the list of goods under the Preferential Trade Agreement. The PTA, operational since 2023, offers tariff concessions on a wide range of goods and is central to deepening economic exchanges, especially given Uzbekistan’s landlocked status and Pakistan’s role as a gateway to maritime routes. Pakistan is the first South Asian nation with which Uzbekistan has signed the PTA. This has enabled Uzbekistan to do international trade through Pakistan’s ports of Gwadar and Karachi. Another milestone is the TIR agreement, under which Uzbekistan’s international trade is conducted through Pakistani ports, and consignments are not opened at border checkpoints. This has also helped increase Uzbekistan’s international trade through Pakistan. Thus, bringing the two brotherly nations closer together.
The joint declaration committed to ongoing cooperation in political dialogue, economic integration, connectivity, and regional security. Furthermore, agreements were signed to establish the Inter-Regional Forum, the High-level Strategic Cooperation Council, and the joint Inter-Governmental Commission on Trade and Scientific Technical Cooperation. The Inter-Regional Forum has been established to boost the interaction between the business community and policymakers. The other two initiatives have been established to support the Inter-Regional Forum’s activities. It is expected that these frameworks will help provide consistent oversight and political guidance for bilateral projects, thereby smoothing implementation and dispute resolution.
It is understood that without the private sector, bilateral trade cannot reach its full potential. For this purpose, multiple MoUs were signed among business communities, totaling $3.4 billion in net worth. These deals were signed in the fields of textiles, pharmaceuticals, agriculture, mining, and tourism sectors. As a goodwill gesture, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev pledged to waive off tax for Pakistani pharmaceutical firms for ten years. This waiver is unprecedented for the Pakistani business community in Uzbekistan. It is expected that, under this waiver, Pakistani exports and investment in Uzbekistan will not only increase substantially but also open up new avenues of cooperation.
A New Chapter in Pakistan – Uzbekistan Ties
Islamabad and Tashkent reiterated their commitment to completing the Trans-Afghan Railways project. This project will not only provide Uzbekistan with a lifeline for its international trade with South Asia, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East, but also connect other Central Asian states and even Russia to international markets. It is important to understand Uzbekistan’s key location in Central Asia. It borders all the Central Asian states, and all are well connected through railway and road networks. This project will also complement the under-construction China – Kyrgyzstan – Uzbekistan railway project. Hence, supporting the broader regional connectivity. Although challenges remain regarding security and financing, the visit reinforced political will to advance these initiatives.
There is no doubt that economic and trade ties are a major driver of bilateral relations, yet people-to-people contacts further strengthen such ties. Pakistan and Uzbekistan share history, culture, and ideology. It is not an exaggeration to say that culturally, Uzbekistan is the closest country to Pakistan. However, people-to-people connectivity has remained at the lowest level in history. Direct air contacts remained suspended since Covid. Nevertheless, in the recent past, Uzbekistan Airways has resumed its two-weekly flights from Lahore and Islamabad and plans to launch two-weekly flights from Karachi as well. There is an increase in the number of Pakistani students in Uzbek universities, with an estimated more than 1500 currently enrolled, but unfortunately, the number of Uzbek students in Pakistani universities is almost nil. There is a dire need to increase the number of students in each other’s institutions. Additionally, education, cultural exchange, and sports diplomacy will pave the way for soft-power projection. The National University of Science and Technology’s conferment of an honorary doctoral degree and professorship on the President of Uzbekistan is commendable. It also highlights mutual respect and reaffirms goodwill between the nations.
The Way Forward
To translate the visionary roadmap set during the visit into tangible outcomes, both countries must focus on implementation, inclusivity, and continuity. To achieve all signed milestones, both countries should develop a rational roadmap with clear deadlines. Performance can be monitored by setting key performance indicators. Scheduled follow-up meetings, monitoring committees, and sector-specific task forces can ensure accountability.
As discussed earlier, public-private partnerships need to be strengthened. To facilitate the private business community, both countries must adopt business-friendly policies that deliver sustainable outcomes. Both governments should facilitate ease of doing business, harmonize regulatory standards, offer risk mitigation for investors, and promote joint ventures that leverage comparative advantages – particularly in pharmaceuticals, agriculture, and technology. Efforts should be intensified to realize the Trans-Afghan Railways project as soon as possible.
Education and cultural agreements should be operationalized with exchange programs, scholarships, and joint research initiatives. These investments in human capital deepen bilateral relationships beyond transactional economics. Today’s investment in youth connectivity will lead to long-term friendships and create favorable conditions for both countries. Both countries need to intensify their cooperation through multilateral forums such as the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, the Economic Cooperation Organization, the United Nations, and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation.
President Shavkat Mirziyoyev’s visit to Pakistan was not symbolic but the beginning of a new era of cooperation, friendship, and the revival of the old, lost glory of bilateral relations. It has been a strategic initiative aimed at improving economic integration, regional cooperation, and connectivity. With a strong suite of agreements, ambitious trade targets, and shared visions for infrastructure and people-to-people links, the foundations for a robust partnership between Pakistan and Uzbekistan have been laid. Nevertheless, these objectives will not materialize unless there is a political will. There is a dire need for sustainable institutional coordination and dynamism from the private sector. If these elements align, the partnership forged in Islamabad could become a model of South and Central Asian cooperation in the decades ahead.
Adam Saud,
Professor of International Relations at Bahria University, Islamabad