Bishkek: Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif met President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev on Sunday on the sidelines of the SCO Council of Heads of State Meeting in Bishkek.
Federal Minister for Commerce Jam Kamal Khan, Minister for Communications Abdul Aleem Khan and Minister for Information and Broadcasting Ataullah Tarar were also present during the meeting.
The Prime Minister conveyed warm felicitations to President Mirziyoyev and the brotherly people of Uzbekistan on the 35th anniversary of Uzbekistan's independence.
Recalling President Mirziyoyev's State Visit to Pakistan in February 2026, the Prime Minister said that the visit and the inaugural meeting of the High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council had imparted fresh momentum to the Pakistan-Uzbekistan Strategic Partnership.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif stressed the importance of timely implementation of decisions taken at the leadership level, particularly in the areas of trade, investment, connectivity and economic cooperation.
He reiterated the shared objective of increasing bilateral trade between Pakistan and Uzbekistan to US$2 billion by 2029 and called for effective implementation of the expanded Preferential Trade Agreement, enhanced business-to-business engagement and promotion of mutually beneficial joint ventures.
Highlighting regional connectivity as a shared strategic priority, the Prime Minister underscored the transformative potential of the Uzbekistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan Railway for linking Central and South Asia and facilitating Uzbekistan's access to Pakistan's seaports.
He emphasized the need for early progress on the Joint Feasibility Study and greater utilization of existing multimodal transport corridors.
The Prime Minister reaffirmed Pakistan's readiness to facilitate Uzbek trade through Pakistan's ports and transport infrastructure.
The two leaders also discussed further strengthening cooperation in industry, agriculture, pharmaceuticals, textiles, mining, digital technologies, education, culture, defence and security.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also supported enhanced air connectivity between the two countries, including progress towards the commencement of direct Tashkent-Karachi flights.
The Prime Minister appreciated Uzbekistan's support for Pakistan's forthcoming Chairmanship of the SCO Council of Heads of State and expressed the desire to work closely with Uzbekistan on regional security, connectivity, trade and sustainable development.
He also emphasized continued cooperation within the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) and other multilateral forums.
The Prime Minister reaffirmed Pakistan's commitment to further strengthening its Strategic Partnership with Uzbekistan and translating the excellent political relationship between the two countries into tangible economic benefits for their peoples.