ТASHKENT, February 5. /Dunyo IA/.  On the eve of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev’s state visit to Pakistan, Center for Economic Research and Reforms (CERR) has unveiled an infographic highlighting key trends in trade, economic and investment cooperation between the two nations over the past nine years, reports Dunyo IA correspondent.

According to the analysis by the Centre for Economic Research and Reforms (CERR), in recent years Uzbekistan has steadily expanded its engagement not only with traditional partners but also with countries playing a key role in major strategic infrastructure projects and in opening new export markets. In this context, Pakistan holds a particularly important position as one of the most populous nations in South Asia, endowed with significant economic potential.

It is emphasized that Uzbekistan regards Pakistan as a key partner in the implementation of the “Trans - Afghan Railway” project, which is intended to link Central and South Asia and provide access to Pakistan’s seaports.

It is worth recalling that in March 2022, an official visit of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan to Pakistan took place, during which intentions were confirmed to further develop strategic partnership as well as expand cooperation in trade, economic and humanitarian spheres.

In February of last year, the Prime Minister of Pakistan Shehbaz Sharif paid an official visit to Uzbekistan, during which mechanisms for expanding bilateral cooperation in trade, industry and transport were discussed, and an agreement was reached to establish a Supreme Council of Strategic Partnership between the two countries.

“In mutual trade between Uzbekistan and Pakistan, the Most-Favoured-Nation regime is in force and a Preferential Trade Agreement and a Transit Trade Agreement have also been signed”, - the Centre for Economic Research and Reforms (CERR) reports.

According to the Center’s data, between 2017 and 2025, the volume of bilateral trade between Uzbekistan and Pakistan increased 12.2 times, reaching USD 445.9 million by the end of 2025. Uzbekistan’s exports to Pakistan grew 32-fold, totaling USD 325 million, while imports amounted to USD 120.9 million. Since 2019, Uzbekistan has maintained a positive trade balance with Pakistan.

In Uzbekistan’s exports to Pakistan, food products dominate, accounting for 80% of the total, followed by services (9.3%), industrial goods (6.5%) and non-food raw materials (4.1%). Imports from Pakistan are primarily composed of food products (46.5%) and chemical goods (37.5%), with smaller shares represented by industrial goods (5.3%) and services (3.3%).

A separate section of the infographic highlights investment cooperation. As of January 1, 2026, there are 208 enterprises operating in Uzbekistan with Pakistani capital, including 18 joint ventures and 190 enterprises with 100% Pakistani capital.

The total volume of direct investments and loans from Pakistan to Uzbekistan’s economy in 2017–2024 amounted to USD 62.5 million, of which USD 47.4 million were attracted in 2024.

Cooperation is also actively developing in the fields of industry, transport and logistics, ICT and engineering services. Special attention is being given to the “Mazar-i-Sharif–Kabul–Peshawar” railway project, which, according to CERR experts, is expected to significantly boost trade turnover, enhance transit potential and establish the shortest transport corridor between Central and South Asia.

The CERR infographic clearly illustrates that the Uzbekistan - Pakistan partnership is reaching a new level and acquiring strategic significance for the long-term economic development of the region. The implementation of these projects is expected to create conditions for increased bilateral trade, enhance the transit potential of both Uzbekistan and Pakistan, and provide Central Asian countries with access to Pakistan’s Gwadar and Karachi ports.