Uzbek president arrives in Pakistan on two-day visit

President Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev has arrived in Islamabad on Thursday on a two-day state visit to Pakistan.

Upon arrival at the Nur Khan Airbase, President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif gave a warm welcome to the Uzbek president. Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar and Special Assistant to PM Haroon Akhtar Khan were also present on the occasion.

Mirziyoyev is leading a high-level delegation comprising senior cabinet ministers and prominent business leaders, in a move seen as a major step towards deepening Pakistan–Uzbekistan economic and strategic partnership.

The visit is taking place at the invitation of PM Shehbaz and comes amid growing momentum in bilateral engagement, particularly in trade, regional connectivity and people-to-people links between Pakistan and Uzbekistan.

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Clad in traditional Pakistani dresses, two children presented bouquets to the guest as a 21-gun salute boomed in the backdrop to herald the arrival of the Uzbek president.

A smartly turned out contingent of the Pakistan armed forces presented a static salute and the tri-services band also delivered an impressive performance. The children attired in traditional dresses were lined up waving the flags of Pakistan and Uzbekistan.

During his stay, he will meet President Zardari, hold delegation-level talks with PM Shehbaz, and address the Pakistan-Uzbekistan Business Forum.

Discussions will focus on reviewing the entire gamut of bilateral relations and identifying new avenues to further deepen cooperation in diverse sectors, including trade, energy, defence, education, people-to-people exchange and regional connectivity.

This is the second visit of Shavkat Mirziyoyev to Pakistan, which reflects the upward trajectory in Pak-Uzbek bilateral relations and the brotherly ties between the two brotherly countries, rooted in common history, faith and common aspirations for peace and prosperity in Central and South Asia.