Prime minister Imran Khan is scheduled to leave on an official visit to Uzbekistan on Thursday. He will also address the first Pakistan-Uzbekistan forum which will be attended by leading businessmen of both countries.
The trip is expected to enhance the bilateral and economic ties between the two countries. Besides offering business opportunities, Uzbekistan will prove to be a door for Pakistan to other Central Asian nations. Reciprocating this, the Government of Pakistan has previously mentioned offering its seaport to the landlocked country.
Adviser to the Prime Minister on Commerce, Textile, Industries, Production and Investment Abdul Razak Dawood will also be accompanying the prime minister during the trip.
In June, Dawood made a statement that it has been a critical year for both countries.
Read more: Pakistan, Uzbekistan agree to boost trade by diversification, visa facilitation
“The current drive of trade and economic relations has a long way to go but it will surely benefit both countries and will strengthen the relationship,” he said, adding that Uzbekistan could become Pakistan’s gateway to Central Asia as it shares borders Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Afghanistan.
It is worth mentioning that Uzbekistan is presently highly dependent on the costly Iranian seaport of Bandar Abbas, which is accessed after going through Turkmenistan.
They also had a travel economic deal with Afghanistan while Pakistan also had the Afghanistan Pakistan Transit Trade Agreement (APTTA).
https://twitter.com/FMPublicDiploPK/status/1415192794252054530
The agreement between Uzbekistan and Pakistan has been negotiated and finalized, covering trade and transit of goods by road and rail. Other agreements include customs procedures, largely on the pattern of Afghanistan Pakistan Transit Trade Agreement (APTTA) a comprehensive and time-tested agreement
Read more: Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, Pakistan make a roadmap for rail link
As per the government’s vision to make Pakistan a trade, transit and trans-shipment hub, and improve territorial network with Central Asia, Uzbekistan was offered to utilize seaports of Pakistan to gain access to the world…This is a great alternative to their currently expensive Turkmenistan-Iran route.
The forms of the bilateral trade agreement were additionally discussed during the gathering of the Joint Working Group on Trade and Economic Affairs at Tashkent in February, 2021.
Uzbekistan and Pakistan were obligated to ensure that suitable infrastructure and personnel were available at border crossings and would provide separate spaces for off-dock terminals and warehousing, at entry/exit points and other customs notified places, on reciprocal basis.
Read more: Pakistani ports cheapest route for Central Asian exports to Gulf: Uzbekistan
While each country remained responsible for licensing transport operators (e.g. trucking firms) registered in their territory, Uzbekistan and Pakistan would issue Road Transport Permits on the basis of which, transport operators would be able to transport goods through the other country’s territory.