- PM Shehbaz and President Mirziyoyev pledge seamless business facilitation and investor support
- Premier says five-year protocol aims to boost trade, investment, R&D, IT, agriculture and tourism collaboration
- Leaders stress regional peace, Afghanistan stability, UN collaboration, and support for Palestine
- High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council (HLSCC) and IGC to monitor and expand bilateral projects
- Both leaders highlight Uzbekistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan Railway Project, multimodal transport and transit trade corridors
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday said that ties between Pakistan and Uzbekistan would henceforth be measured by trade flows, investment projects, industrial partnerships, and people-to-people exchanges. He invited Uzbek businesses to explore opportunities in textiles, pharmaceuticals, mining, agriculture, and tourism, as private sector entities from both countries signed MoUs worth $3.4 billion for B2B cooperation.
“I hope that B2B MOUs worth $3.4 billion are going to be materialized, which is a great achievement. I want to assure you that I am just a telephone call away, and we will remove any bottleneck or impediment on the way. Bureaucracy will not create any kind of hurdle in your… pic.twitter.com/h2fL6ZTkfU
— Government of Pakistan (@GovtofPakistan) February 6, 2026
Addressing the Pakistan-Uzbekistan Business Forum in Islamabad alongside Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, who concluded a two-day state visit, PM Shehbaz said both sides had signed a protocol to achieve an ambitious yet attainable target of increasing bilateral trade to $2 billion in five years, according to a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO).
براہِ راست: وزیراعظم محمد شہباز شریف کا پاکستان-ازبکستان بزنس فورم سے خطاب https://t.co/7QwCYf7tsG
— Government of Pakistan (@GovtofPakistan) February 6, 2026
The forum, attended by ministers and businessmen from both nations, focused on creating a conducive business environment with no room for bureaucratic or systemic hurdles. Both leaders welcomed the B2B deals, calling them highly achievable given the comprehensive programs and frameworks already in place.
Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif met with the President of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev and held delegation level talks
Both leaders underscored the positive momentum in bilateral relations grounded in shared historical, religious and cultural ties. The discussions… pic.twitter.com/ucP2Atgrv7
— Government of Pakistan (@GovtofPakistan) February 6, 2026
“I am here, of course, as Prime Minister of Pakistan, but for this forum, I am the CEO of Pakistan. I am just a telephone call away. My colleagues are just a telephone call away. We will remove any bottleneck or impediment on the way. Bureaucracy and red tape will not create any hurdles in your business proposals,” PM Shehbaz assured.
He emphasized that the protocol would lead to the formation of a working group tasked with drafting a five-year roadmap to promote trade, investment, joint collaboration in research and development, IT, and agriculture. Tourism was also highlighted as a sector with significant mutual growth potential, while he expressed confidence that the $3.4 billion B2B MoUs would materialize into concrete projects.
Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif and President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev witnessing the MoUs exchange between Pakistan and Uzbek businesses. pic.twitter.com/jvN47Q160d
— Government of Pakistan (@GovtofPakistan) February 6, 2026
PM Shehbaz added that Pakistan viewed Uzbekistan not only as a partner but as a gateway to Central Asia, offering joint venture opportunities for Pakistani entrepreneurs. President Mirziyoyev, in turn, urged the business communities of both countries to fully tap the trade potential, promising ten-year tax exemptions for Pakistani businesses and all possible facilitation to strengthen trade relations.
President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev addresses Pakistan Uzbekistan Business Forum held in Islamabad. pic.twitter.com/uYr8aYrp8D
— Government of Pakistan (@GovtofPakistan) February 6, 2026
Joint Communiqué: Commitment to Connectivity and Cooperation
Separately, Pakistan and Uzbekistan underscored their commitment to further deepen bilateral ties and strengthen cooperation in a joint declaration, the Foreign Office (FO) said on Friday.
Joint Declaration On The Outcomes Of The State Visit Of The President Of The Republic Of Uzbekistan To The Islamic Republic Of Pakistan (1/2)https://t.co/EVdCx7aJnj
🔗⬇️ pic.twitter.com/GRGpSr7rME
— Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) February 6, 2026
In the joint declaration, Pakistan and Uzbekistan reaffirmed their commitment to deepen bilateral ties and strengthen cooperation. The statement noted that the two leaders had held comprehensive discussions covering the full spectrum of bilateral relations, reaffirming support for sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity, while promoting sustainable development aligned with the long-term interests of both nations.
The leaders exchanged views on regional peace and security, connectivity, and trade, expressing satisfaction with 34 years of diplomatic relations. They emphasized that these relations are firmly anchored in longstanding bonds of friendship, historical, cultural, and spiritual affinities.
Both sides committed to elevating cooperation to a new level to serve the core interests of both nations and reaffirmed the implementation of the roadmap agreed upon during PM Shehbaz’s visit to Uzbekistan in February 2025. The High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council (HLSCC), established last year, was highlighted as a key mechanism for top-level guidance and monitoring of bilateral cooperation.
The leaders also commended the Joint Inter-Governmental Commission (IGC) on Trade-Economic and Scientific-Technical Cooperation, noting the success of the 10th IGC session in Islamabad on February 2 and the intent to achieve the targets set therein.
They welcomed the framework agreement on the Uzbekistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan (UAP) Railway Project, signed in July 2025, emphasizing the role of regional connectivity in trade, socio-economic development, and integration. Both countries reiterated their commitment to operationalizing the MoU on Multimodal Transport (September 2024), while Pakistan confirmed its readiness to provide port access and high-standard road networks for Uzbek trade and transit.
Trade, Industrial Cooperation, and Investment
Uzbekistan is the first Central Asian country with which Pakistan signed a Transit Trade Agreement and a Preferential Trade Agreement. Both nations welcomed the growing bilateral trade volume and reiterated their commitment to achieve the $2 billion trade target by 2029.
The leaders agreed to establish joint management of economic and industrial zones in both countries, aimed at boosting industrial cooperation and exporting finished products to third countries. They also signed a framework agreement establishing the Inter-Regional Forum, with the first forum scheduled in Uzbekistan in 2026.
Both leaders expressed satisfaction over the completion of phase II of the Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) expansion, signing of the Bilateral Investment Treaty, and plans to explore agreements on aligning SPS measures, mutual recognition of standards, and joint ventures in pharmaceuticals, textiles, leather, agriculture, minerals, and engineering goods, while also promoting e-commerce cooperation.
They stressed the importance of diversifying trade corridors and amending the Intergovernmental Agreement on Transit Trade to further strengthen trade between the two countries.
Defence, Security, and Regional Stability
Both sides agreed to maintain regular dialogue and constructive cooperation in security and defence, welcoming staff talks and high-level exchanges. They also agreed to continue mutual participation in joint military exercises and training, as well as professional development, best practice sharing, and institutional collaboration.
The leaders reaffirmed their commitment to the UN Charter, pledging to support each other’s initiatives in multilateral fora and stressing the importance of dialogue and peaceful engagement to address longstanding issues in South and Central Asia. They pledged to support each other’s candidatures in international organizations, particularly at the UN.
Uzbekistan praised Pakistan’s contributions as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council (2025-2026) and congratulated Pakistan on its successful UNSC presidency in June 2025. Pakistan, in turn, congratulated Uzbekistan on the successful hosting of the 43rd UNESCO General Conference in Samarkand in 2025.
Uzbekistan extended full support for Pakistan’s upcoming SCO chairmanship (2026-2027) and acknowledged Pakistan’s chairmanship of the Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS) of the SCO (2025-2026) and the Economic Cooperation Organisation (ECO, 2026-2027).
Afghanistan, Regional Peace, and Global Conflicts
Both leaders emphasized the importance of peace and stability in Afghanistan for the success of the UAP Railway Project and lasting regional security. They called on Afghanistan to dismantle terrorist organizations that threaten regional and global security.
They also reaffirmed their commitment to promoting peace, stability, and the just resolution of global conflicts, including support for the people of Palestine and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state.
The leaders concluded that the agreements and discussions during the visit would further strengthen the strategic partnership between Pakistan and Uzbekistan. President Mirziyoyev invited PM Shehbaz to visit Uzbekistan at a convenient time, and the Prime Minister accepted, pledging to continue developing comprehensive bilateral cooperation.
