President Mirziyoyev’s Pakistan visit signals stronger Pak-Uzbek economic ties.
Islamabad – 3 February 2026 (Adnan Hameed) : A roundtable discussion held in Islamabad described the forthcoming visit of Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev to Pakistan as a key step toward enhancing bilateral economic, trade, and diplomatic relations, with positive implications for regional economic integration.
The speakers said Pakistan and Uzbekistan are emerging economies of the region, and the Uzbek President’s visit would usher in a new era of bilateral economic cooperation with far-reaching implications for regional connectivity and integration.
Speaking on the occasion, First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan, Bakhromjon Aloev, said that President Mirziyoyev’s upcoming visit to Islamabad would mark a significant step forward in Uzbek–Pakistani relations.
He said both sides were preparing new initiatives covering trade, transport, energy, and digital technologies.
The minister said the visit would open new avenues for bilateral trade and investment, adding that important agreements would be signed to increase bilateral trade volume to $2 billion.
He noted that although current trade volume was still below potential, it had been growing rapidly over the past few years.
The Deputy Foreign Minister said President Mirziyoyev had a long-term vision aimed at promoting regional economic integration. He also informed that tourism from Pakistan to Uzbekistan was continuously increasing, and around 25,000 Pakistani tourists were expected to visit Uzbekistan this year.
Ambassador of Uzbekistan to Pakistan, Alisher Tukhtaev, said that the upcoming visit of President Mirziyoyev would act as a catalyst for bilateral economic and trade relations while enhancing regional integration. He said the launch of direct flights between Pakistan and Uzbekistan was a significant step by the Uzbek government to promote people-to-people contact and regional connectivity.
Highlighting Uzbekistan’s economic progress, the ambassador said the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) had exceeded $145 billion for the first time in its history.
He said exports increased by 23 percent to $33.4 billion, while gold reserves surpassed $60 billion.
He added that foreign investment inflows reached $43.1 billion, with total investment accounting for 31.9 percent of GDP. Economic growth was projected at 6.6 percent, with GDP expected to reach $167 billion.
