Pakistan to offer Uzbekistan access to its ports to improve connectivity

Islamabad: Pakistan has assured Uzbekistan of support and facilitation to access Pakistani ports to expand trade ties with the Central Asian states and improve regional connectivity.

Prime Minister Imran Khan reaffirmed the country’s support to offer Uzbekistan access to seaports of Gwadar and Karachi during his meeting with Uzbekistan’s Foreign Minister Dr Abdulaziz Kamilov, who is on a two-day visit (March 10-11) to Islamabad. “Pakistan offers shortest route to international seas to Central Asian Republics including Uzbekistan and could prove a gateway to landlocked Central Asia,” the Pakistani premier said. During the meeting, he emphasised that enhanced trade and regional connectivity were the cornerstones of economic growth and development for the two countries and the region.

Khan also expressed Pakistan’s desire to forge closer ties with Uzbekistan and other countries of Central Asia with focus on trade, investment, energy, and people-to-people exchanges. Uzbek foreign minister conveyed greetings of President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev and reiterated his country’s commitment to expand bilateral cooperation with Pakistan in diverse fields. Khan invited the Uzbek President to visit Pakistan to deepen bilateral cooperation between the two countries.

Railway link

Pakistan and Uzbekistan officials also discussed the proposed Pakistan-Uzbekistan-Afghanistan, railway project. During the meeting, Khan underscored Pakistan’s commitment to supporting all efforts for the early implementation of the railway line, which he described as an “important connectivity project.” The three countries have signed a strategic plan for the $4.8 billion mega railway project to improve regional trade and connectivity, offering the landlocked region direct access to the Arabian Sea. The 573-km long railway track will connect Pakistan’s Peshawar city to Afghanistan’s cities of Kabul and Mazar-e-Sharif all the way to Uzbekistan.

Economic cooperation

The Uzbek foreign minister also held delegation-level talks with Pakistan’s foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi to discuss the enhancement of economic cooperation, regional connectivity and tourism promotion. The two foreign ministers expressed satisfaction at the progress achieved in advancing rail connectivity between the two countries and agreed on early completion of the railway project. Pakistan also urged facilitation of visas for businessmen and tourists to improve direct air connectivity, trade and tourism.

Pakistani officials welcomed the proposed ‘Re-connect Silk Route Conference’ scheduled in July 2021 which he said would help showcase Pakistani exports and products in Central Asia. He also called for closer agricultural cooperation between the two countries. The Uzbek official extended an invitation to Pakistani foreign minister to participate in the Central Asia-South Asia Connectivity Conference to be held in Tashkent in July 2021.