ISLAMABAD ( WNAM REPPORT):Ambassador of Uzbekistan Alisher Tukhtayev has said that direct flights between Uzbekistan and Pakistan would resume on November 29 (tomorrow) which will surely take trade and economic relations to new heights and enhance regional integration.
The ambassador said that this remarkable achievement would not have been possible without the personal initiative and unwavering support of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev under which Uzbekistan has resumed the issuance of tourist visas for citizens of brotherly Pakistan.
Uzbek envoy said, “Direct flights will create new opportunities for tourists and businessmen, and Uzbekistan will also serve as a unique hub for Pakistan’s citizens, including business chamber representatives.”
Ambassador Alisher Tukhtayev said, “The restoration of regular direct flights is not just about connecting Tashkent and Lahore; it is a strategic step to enhance the economic and trade connectivity and will promote cultural exchange between the two countries.”
He said that over the past five years, the bilateral trade turnover has increased almost four times, and this figure amounted to $122 million in 2019 and is expected to exceed $400 million by the end of 2024.”
The ambassador said, “Pakistan has an interest in the Uzbek market with its agricultural products, food, textiles, and leather products, while Uzbek industrial products, fruits, and vegetables are in high demand in Pakistan.”
Alisher Tukhtayev said, “The Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) between Uzbekistan and Pakistan is fully active, and we are currently working to increase the list of preferential products under the Agreement from 17 to at least 100 items.”
In June 2024, the ‘Made in Pakistan’ industrial exhibition was held in Tashkent, within the framework of which several new trade and investment agreements were signed, he said.
“We are planning to organize an exhibition of industrial products ‘Made in Uzbekistan’ in Pakistan in 2025, and such events will serve to expand the range of goods exported between our countries,” he said.
I have no doubt that the future of trade and economic relations between Uzbekistan and Pakistan is bright, and strong political ties will serve to elevate this cooperation to a new level, the Uzbek ambassador concluded.
