By Nigora Sultanova
In recent years, deepening cooperation between Uzbekistan and Pakistan has emerged as a significant new strategic direction across Eurasia, as the two countries strengthen connectivity across economic, cultural, educational, and technological sectors.
Rooted in centuries-old historical links dating back to the era of the Great Silk Road, Tashkent and Islamabad are now transforming shared heritage into concrete initiatives aimed at boosting economic resilience, enhancing technological capacity, and supporting regional integration.
Since the early 2020s, bilateral relations have gained steady momentum, driven by strong political will on both sides. The signing of the Joint Declaration on Strategic Partnership in 2021 marked a turning point, setting a fast pace for high-level dialogue and opening a new chapter in Uzbekistan–Pakistan relations. Regular leadership-level engagements, active foreign office consultations, and cooperation within international forums have enabled timely coordination and identification of new areas of collaboration.
A major boost to bilateral ties came with the official visit of Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to Uzbekistan in February 2025, where he met President Shavkat Mirziyoyev. Both leaders expressed satisfaction over the rapid expansion of cooperation in trade, investment, transport, digital technologies, and cultural exchanges.
Commending Uzbekistan’s reform agenda, Prime Minister Sharif praised President Mirziyoyev’s leadership, stating that “miracles are possible only through a clear vision, high dynamism, hard work, and a resolute pursuit of a common goal.”
The visit culminated in the establishment of the High-Level Strategic Partnership Council, providing a formal institutional framework to oversee and accelerate bilateral cooperation.
Trade and investment on a strong growth trajectory
Economic cooperation remains the most visible indicator of growing ties. Pakistan ranks among Uzbekistan’s leading trade partners in South Asia, with bilateral trade expanding sharply over the past decade. In 2025, mutual trade exceeded $440 million—twelve times higher than in 2016—with Uzbek exports accounting for more than $320 million.
Both sides have set an ambitious target to raise trade turnover to $2 billion in the near future. A key instrument supporting this goal is the Preferential Trade Agreement, which grants customs concessions on 17 categories of goods from each country, easing market access and stimulating trade flows.
Business cooperation is also expanding rapidly. As of October 1, 2025, around 180 companies with Pakistani capital were operating in Uzbekistan. Joint ventures now span textiles, food processing, pharmaceuticals, construction materials, electrical equipment, logistics, and agriculture.
In 2024, Tashkent hosted the first International Exhibition “Made in Pakistan” and a joint Logistics Forum, bringing together more than 80 Pakistani companies. In return, the “Made in Uzbekistan” exhibition held in Lahore in February 2025 resulted in the signing of 181 trade agreements worth $500 million, reflecting growing business confidence on both sides.
Investment cooperation has also gained pace. Pakistani investments in joint projects reached $33 million in 2024 and nearly $70 million between January and July 2025. Uzbek companies are exploring production projects in Pakistan, including household appliances, tractors, smart meters, and gas equipment, opening new avenues for technology transfer and industrial cooperation.
Transport, energy and digital cooperation
Transport connectivity remains a strategic priority, particularly for landlocked Central Asia. One of the flagship initiatives is the Trans-Afghan Railway project, designed to link Central and South Asia through a modern logistics corridor. Once operational, the route is expected to cut delivery times to 3–5 days and reduce transport costs by over 40 percent.
In 2025, significant progress was made on the project, with key feasibility study components completed and intergovernmental consultations ongoing.
Energy cooperation is another area of growing potential, including geological exploration, oil and gas development, and modernization of processing facilities, aimed at enhancing energy security and industrial growth.
The digital sector has emerged as a promising new frontier, with joint initiatives in software development, IT services, startups, and innovation projects supporting modernization and competitiveness in both economies.
To support trade infrastructure, Uzbekistan opened trade houses in Lahore and Karachi in 2025, while Pakistani trade missions are planned for Tashkent and Samarkand.
Cultural, educational and tourism links strengthen people-to-people ties
Beyond economics, cultural and humanitarian cooperation continues to deepen. Shared historical and intellectual traditions—linked to figures such as Al-Khwarizmi, Mirzo Ulugbek, and Zahiruddin Muhammad Babur—form the foundation for educational exchanges, scientific collaboration, and cultural initiatives.
Tourism has become a key growth area. Improved air connectivity, including direct flights between Islamabad–Tashkent and Lahore–Tashkent, enabled more than 10,000 Pakistani tourists to visit Uzbekistan in 2025—nearly 2.5 times more than in 2023. Religious and cultural tourism to historic cities and sacred sites such as the mausoleums of Imam Bukhari, Imam Termezi, and Bahauddin Naqshband continues to gain popularity.
Looking ahead
The upcoming visit of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev to Islamabad in early February 2026 is expected to further strengthen the strategic partnership, unlocking new opportunities in trade, transport, energy, and digital technologies.
Officials from both sides stress the importance of sustaining momentum, expanding cooperation to regional and local levels, and engaging businesses, youth, academia, and civil society to ensure long-term, inclusive growth.
As Uzbekistan and Pakistan continue to build “bridges of friendship” rooted in shared history and mutual trust, their partnership is increasingly shaping a new model of connectivity between Central and South Asia—linking the past with future-oriented cooperation.
