On February 26, 2025, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif arrived in Tashkent to engage in bilateral discussions with Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev. The leaders are set to oversee the signing of agreements and memorandums of understanding (MoUs) aimed at bolstering cooperation across various sectors, including defense, energy, and trade. This visit follows Sharif’s recent trip to Baku, where Pakistan and Azerbaijan formalized multiple agreements to enhance collaboration in trade, energy, tourism, and education.
Pakistan aims to leverage its strategic position to serve as a pivotal trade and transit hub, connecting landlocked Central Asian nations to global markets. The Pakistan-Uzbekistan Joint Business Forum is also on the agenda, providing a platform for business communities from both countries to explore collaborative opportunities.
Additionally, Prime Minister Sharif is scheduled to tour Tashkent’s Technopark to observe Uzbekistan’s industrial manufacturing capabilities. Uzbekistan, as the largest consumer market and the second-largest economy in Central Asia, plays a crucial role in Pakistan’s regional connectivity initiatives.
The two nations have previously established a strategic partnership, highlighted by the signing of the Joint Declaration on the Establishment of a Strategic Partnership in July 2021 and subsequent agreements to enhance trade and economic cooperation.
