Trade, Defense, Education in focus as Pakistan, Uzbekistan ink major cooperation pacts

2026-02-05 - 16:26

ISLAMABAD – Pakistan and Uzbekistan inked series of groundbreaking agreements and memoranda of understanding (MoUs) spanning trade, defense, education, culture, and technology. The historic pacts were inked during Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev’s high-profile visit to Pakistan, signaling a bold push to elevate bilateral relations into a comprehensive strategic partnership. The signing ceremony, held at the Prime Minister’s House, was attended by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, President Mirziyoyev, and senior officials from both nations. The agreements cover an extraordinary range of sectors, including defense, agriculture, trade, industry, culture, education, disaster management, pharmaceuticals, mining, maritime cooperation, and more. The agreements include: Expanding the Preferential Trade Agreement to boost bilateral trade Establishing an Inter-Regional Forum for strategic collaboration Joint action plans in defense, climate change, disaster management, and food security Enhanced cooperation in agriculture, plant protection, pharmaceuticals, textiles, IT, and small-medium enterprises Agreements to promote culture, sports, science, education, and heritage preservation Strengthening mechanisms to curb drug smuggling and transfer convicted persons between countries PM Shehbaz Sharif warmly welcomed President Mirziyoyev, congratulating him on receiving honorary academic titles and Pakistan’s highest civil award, Nishan-e-Pakistan. He praised the historical bonds between the two nations, described the trade protocol as a “milestone for economic cooperation,” and announced a five-year joint action plan with quarterly progress reviews in key sectors like agriculture, IT, and textiles. President Mirziyoyev hailed warm hospitality and discussed ambitious plans for collaboration in education, science, and technology. He also highlighted the signing of a protocol aimed at substantially increasing bilateral trade and commended PM Shehbaz for his efforts in promoting economic stability and regional development. With these historic agreements, Pakistan and Uzbekistan have set the stage for a new era of partnership, promising transformative progress across multiple strategic sectors.