Pakistan and Uzbekistan have agreed to enhance bilateral trade to $1 billion at the earliest, with Finance Minister Ishaq Dar co-chairing the 8th Session of the JMC in Trade, Economy, and Scientific & Technical Cooperation on 24 February 2023.
The Uzbek President and Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif discussed trade, investment, and regional connectivity issues. The Uzbek President appreciated Pakistan’s continued support for the trans-Afghan Railway project and expressed satisfaction with the increased level of interaction with Pakistan. He offered his full support to further deepen the economic cooperation between the two countries.
Finance Minister Ishaq Dar thanked the President for hosting the Pakistani delegation and hoped to achieve the Joint Ministerial Commission’s target of $1 billion in bilateral trade. He also conveyed warm wishes to the Uzbek President and people from Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
Dar expressed his support for the development of a road and rail network between the two countries, and both sides expressed hope that the operationalization of the Preferential Trade Agreement and the Transit Trade Agreement (UPTTA) will help boost bilateral trade. The Joint Ministerial Commission is scheduled to meet tomorrow in Tashkent to take up major areas of collaboration.
