ISLAMABAD: The Pakistani ministry of commerce and the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan organized the Pakistan-Uzbekistan Logistics Forum on Saturday in Tashkent, where officials agreed to set up a joint chamber of commerce and enhance direct flights.
Pakistan aims to enhance its role as a pivotal trade and transit hub connecting the landlocked Central Asian republics with the rest of the world, leveraging its strategic geographical position. In recent weeks, there has been a flurry of visits, investment talks and economic activity between Pakistan and Central Asian states and earlier this week, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif chaired a special meeting attended by senior government ministers on how to enhance relations with the region in the areas of economy and investment.
“The [Pak-Uzbek] Forum was followed by B2B meetings between the Pakistani and Uzbek companies from the Logistics and Transport Sector,” a commerce ministry statement said. “More than 300 B2B meetings took place between the 14 participating Pakistani companies and 50 plus Uzbek companies who attended the Forum.”
![](https://www.arabnews.pk/sites/default/files/pictures/June/3913761/2024/uzbekforum3.jpg)
Officials from Uzbekistan and Pakistan attend the Pakistan-Uzbekistan Logistics Forum on Saturday in Tashkent on June 29, 2024. (Photo courtesy: X/@official_tdap)
On the sidelines, CE TDAP, Zubair Motiwala, held a meeting with the deputy chairman of the Uzbekistan Chamber of Commerce & Industry in which “both sides agreed to enhance bilateral trade, improve connectivity (including direct flight operations), and establish a Joint Chamber with Pakistan.”
They also discussed visa issues for the business community and sector-specific barriers.
State -run APP reported officials from both countries at the logistics forum “agreed to enhance bilateral trade, improve connectivity (including direct flight operations), and establish a Joint Chamber with Pakistan.”
The Foreign Minister of Uzbekistan, Bakhtiyor Saidov, was in Islamabad on an official visit on May 8-9 with a special focus on trade and connectivity.