PM sees new avenues of prosperity thru Pakistan Uzbekistan trade connectivity

PM sees new avenues of prosperity thru Pakistan Uzbekistan trade connectivity.

Prime Minister Imran Khan expressed these views, while addressing the Uzbekistan-Pakistan Business Forum, held in the Uzbek capital on Thursday.

He said Pakistan’s connectivity with Uzbekistan in trade and bilateral spheres would open up new avenues of prosperity in the region.

PM sees new avenues of prosperity thru Pakistan Uzbekistan trade

Khan further said Pakistan has immense potential to connect Central Asia with rest of the world and become a hub of trade.

A large number of businessmen from Pakistan and Uzbekistan attended the forum.

Besides, the delegation of prime minister including Ministers: Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Chaudhry Fawad Hussain, Sheikh Rashid Ahmed, Ali Haider Zaidi, National Security Adviser Dr Moeed Yusuf and Khyber Pukhtunkhwa Minister for Information Technology Atif Khan.

Prime Minister Imran Khan assured the businessmen and traders of Uzbekistan that Pakistan would extend them every possible facilitation in promotion of trade.

He told them this relationship is just the beginning of the journey of development and prosperity.

Moreover, he said that the railway project among Pakistan, Uzbekistan and Afghanistan would prove a revolution of development.

The prime minister stressed that to exploit the region’s potential, peace and security in the neighbourhood was essential.

Afghanistan

On the situation in Afghanistan, he said peace in the war-torn country was important to ensure materialization of development projects in Central Asia.

He expressed Pakistan’s keenness for peace in Afghanistan.

Pakistan considers it vital for trade connectivity among the regional countries.

He further said that such trade linkages helped in raising the living standards of the citizens.

Imran Khan referred to the cooperation among the neighbouring countries of the European Union, that focused on bilateral trade arrangements for the benefit of their people.

He hoped that with the support and will of the regional States, the situation in Afghanistan would lead to improvement.

The prime minister said Pakistan and Uzbekistan enjoyed relations rooted in common faith, culture and history. That offered a unique dimension to the two nations to explore each other in diverse areas.

Prime Minister of Uzbekistan Abdulla Aripov

Earlier, Prime Minister of Uzbekistan Abdulla Aripov in his speech mentioned the strong ties between Pakistan and Uzbekistan in multiple areas of cooperation.

He welcomed PM Imran Khan on his official visit to Uzbekistan, which he said would usher in a new area of cooperation and joint ventures between the two brotherly countries.

Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said Pakistan and Uzbekistan had vast potential to explore the opportunities of bilateral trade and investment for their mutual interest.

The FM part of the official delegation of Prime Minister Imran Khan during his visit to Tashkent attended the Pak-Uzbek Business Forum.

He said the business community from the two sides showed immense interest in bilateral engagement.

Furthermore, he mentioned that around 130 representatives of leading companies and business houses from Pakistan attended the Pak-Uzbek Business Forum.

Agreements worth $453 million

He said the activity resulted in signing of agreements worth $453 million and hoped that it would lead to further strengthening of bilateral trade.

Information Minister Chaudhry Fawad Hussain said two important objectives of the prime minister’s visit were to ensure travel facilities among Pakistan, Uzbekistan and Afghanistan and to deliberate upon ways to ensure peace in Afghanistan.

He said Pakistan desired an effective trade linkage up to Uzbekistan and other Central Asian states.

In a video message from the Uzbek capital, he said we want an effective transportation infrastructure.

That will help transport the goods loaded from Pakistan’s Karachi and Gwadar seaports to Uzbekistan’s Tashkent.

He hoped that such measure would increase trade with Uzbekistan “manifold”, and also mentioned the excellent efforts made by the Ministry of Commerce in this regard.

GTV