Latest news with #AlisherTukhtaev
Express Tribune
12-04-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
Pakistan, Uzbekistan deepen tourism ties
Listen to article In a significant move to bolster bilateral ties and promote regional tourism, Pakistan and Uzbekistan held a high-level tourism engagement in Islamabad. The event brought together senior tourism officials, diplomats, and industry stakeholders from both countries. The Uzbek delegation was led by Umid Shadiev, Chairman of Uzbekistan's Tourism Committee, along with Ambassador Alisher Tukhtaev. Senior officials from the Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation (PTDC) and representatives from the local tourism sector participated on behalf of Pakistan. PTDC's managing director highlighted the shared historical and cultural heritage between the two nations, rooted in the ancient Silk Road. "Tourism is not just an exchange of money; it is an exchange of stories, experiences, and friendships," he noted, emphasising travel as a means to foster peace and collaboration. Discussions focused on leveraging tourism opportunities in both countriesfrom Uzbekistan's historic cities of Samarkand, Bukhara, and Khiva to Pakistan's scenic north and archaeological sites like Mohenjo-Daro and the Shahi Fort. Prominent Pakistani tour operators were invited to explore Uzbekistan as a travel destination. The Uzbek delegation offered detailed insights into Uzbekistan's tourism offerings, covering cultural, historical, and natural attractions. Shadiev reaffirmed Uzbekistan's desire to expand cooperation with Pakistan. "Uzbekistan sees Pakistan not just as a neighbour, but as a trusted friend," he said, envisioning a tourism bridge connecting both nations. Actionable steps were outlined, including launching joint cultural festivals, promoting youth and media exchange programmes, and improving direct flight connectivity.
Express Tribune
13-03-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
PM seeks roadmap to increase Pak-Uzbek trade to $2bn
Listen to article Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has stressed the importance of creating a comprehensive roadmap to increase bilateral trade between Pakistan and Uzbekistan to $2 billion as outlined by the leadership of both countries. In a meeting with Uzbekistan's Ambassador to Pakistan, Alisher Tukhtaev, on Thursday, the prime minister emphasised Pakistan's eagerness to expand cooperation with Uzbekistan in several sectors, including mining, railways, Special Economic Zones, banking, tourism, culture, and renewable energy. The Prime Minister also expressed his gratitude to President Shavkat Mirziyoyev for the warm reception he received during his recent visit to Tashkent and conveyed his greetings to the Uzbek leader. He reiterated the success of the visit, which resulted in the formation of a High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council and the signing of several agreements and MOUs in various fields. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif mentioned that he had instructed relevant ministers to promptly follow up on the outcomes of his discussions with the Uzbek leadership during his trip. Ambassador Tukhtaev conveyed President Mirziyoyev's commitment to enhancing Uzbekistan's ties with Pakistan and announced that the President had accepted the Prime Minister's invitation to visit Pakistan later this year, with the dates to be finalized between both sides.
Arab News
03-03-2025
- Business
- Arab News
Pakistan, Uzbekistan set $1 billion bilateral trade target, Uzbek envoy says
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Uzbekistan have set a bilateral trade target of $1 billion, Pakistani state media reported on Sunday, citing the Uzbek envoy to Islamabad. The development came nearly a week after Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's visit to Uzbekistan as part of Pakistan's economic diplomacy push to enhance trade and investment with landlocked Central Asian states. Pakistan is seeking to leverage its strategic position as a key trade and transit hub to connect Central Asia with global markets and since last year, there has been a flurry of high-level visits, investment discussions and other economic engagements between Islamabad and Central Asian republics. Both countries have lately been working toward optimizing cargo flows, establishing green corridors at border customs points, and digitalization of customs clearance processes to facilitate smoother trade operations. 'Pakistan and Uzbekistan are committed to achieve the target of bilateral trade volume worth one billion dollar,' Uzbek Ambassador to Pakistan Alisher Tukhtaev was quoted as saying by the Radio Pakistan broadcaster. 'Specific measures were being taken to expand the export and import structure of food, textile, and electrical products.' The development comes as Pakistan treads a long path to economic recovery under a $7 billion International Monetary Fund (IMF) program Islamabad secured in Sept. last year. Uzbekistan is the largest consumer market and the second-biggest economy in Central Asia. It is central to Pakistan's regional connectivity plans and was the first Central Asian nation with which Pakistani officials signed a bilateral Transit Trade Agreement (UPTTA) and a Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) covering 17 items. Ambassador Tukhtaev said both countries were developing and diversifying cargo transportation routes for fast and convenient movement of goods, in cooperation with large transport and logistics companies, according to the report. 'Uzbekistan is interested in increasing the volume of agricultural exports to Pakistan, especially in the supply of fruits and vegetables, grain products, and textile products,' he said. 'At the same time, Pakistan's potential in the pharmaceutical, textile, construction materials and information technology sectors is also of great importance for the Uzbek market.' Pakistan and Uzbekistan have forged strong economic ties in recent years and a landmark moment in their relationship was the signing of the Joint Declaration on the Establishment of a Strategic Partnership during the visit of a high-level Pakistani delegation to Uzbekistan on July 15-16, 2021. This was followed by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev's visit to Pakistan on March 3-4, 2022, which resulted in the signing of another Joint Declaration on Further Steps to Enhance the Strategic Partnership and multiple agreements covering trade, investment, and economic cooperation. In February 2023, Pakistan and Uzbekistan signed a $1 billion trade deal to enhance bilateral commerce, facilitating the exchange of goods and services. Last month, Ambassador Tukhtaev also announced plans to launch direct flights between Uzbekistan and Pakistan's southern port city of Karachi.
