Uzbekistan’s President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif have agreed to establish a joint transport and logistics company aimed at increasing cargo turnover, including transit shipments. According to the Uzbek president’s official website, the decision was announced yesterday during the leaders’ meeting in Tashkent.
The initiative reportedly stems from the growing volume of freight transport along the multimodal corridor linking Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, and Pakistan. Over the past few years, cargo traffic along this route has increased fivefold. The two sides also emphasized the importance of coordinated efforts to advance the Trans-Afghan Railway project.
Mirziyoyev and Sharif discussed various aspects of strengthening the strategic partnership between their countries. Official data shows that bilateral trade surpassed US$400 million last year, while the number of joint enterprises rose to 130. Trade houses have opened in Tashkent and Karachi, and direct flights between the Uzbek capital and Lahore have resumed.
However, both leaders see untapped potential in economic cooperation. They approved a roadmap aimed at boosting trade turnover to US$2 billion. Key priorities include expanding the range of goods under the Preferential Trade Agreement, simplifying phytosanitary and quarantine requirements, streamlining customs procedures, integrating e-commerce platforms, and improving interbank payment mechanisms.
Plans were also discussed for joint projects in pharmaceuticals, electrical engineering, agriculture, agricultural machinery, geology and mineral resources, and the textile industry. In addition, the two sides agreed to enhance cultural and humanitarian cooperation by organizing reciprocal cultural weeks and tourism promotion events.
The Uzbek president’s official website says that following the talks, Mirziyoyev Sharif signed a Joint Declaration and Protocol on the establishment of a bilateral Strategic Partnership Council at the highest level, aimed at further developing and strengthening Uzbek-Pakistani relations of multifaceted cooperation.
The following documents signed during the visit were exchanged in the presence of the two leaders:
– Agreement on cooperation in the field of science, technology and innovations;
– Agreement on visa-free travels of holders of diplomatic passports;
– Agreement on cooperation between the Ministries of Interior;
– Agreement on cooperation in the field of vocational education;
– Agreement on cooperation in the field of youth policy;
– Agreement on cooperation between national information agencies;
– Cooperation agreements and arrangements between diplomatic academies, the cities of Tashkent and Lahore, and other documents.
