ISLAMABAD, January 26. /Dunyo IA/. Pakistan’s leading news agencies, including “Associated Press of Pakistan” and “Diplomatic News Agency”, newspapers such as “Daily Independent” and “The Daily Spokesman” as well as online outlets including “Pakistan In the World”, “Global News Pakistan”, “The Gulf Observer”, “Islamabad Post”, “Media Online Today”, “Diplomatic Affairs” and “CPEC News” have published an article titled “Uzbekistan - Pakistan: Strategic Partnership toward regional stability and integration”, reports Dunyo IA correspondent.

The article focuses on an important roundtable discussion held on 23 January at the International Institute of Central Asia in Tashkent. bThe event provided a significant platform for expert dialogue aimed at deepening and enriching the substance of the strategic partnership between the two countries.

“Given their geographic location as well as their economic and cultural potential, Uzbekistan and Pakistan today serve as a vital link between Central and South Asia”, - articles note. - “The event, organized in cooperation with the Embassy of Pakistan in Uzbekistan, brought together representatives of relevant ministries, business circles, analytical centers and the academic community. It is worth noting that in recent years, relations between the two friendly countries have risen to an entirely new level. In particular, the formalization of the strategic partnership in 2021 indicates that bilateral ties have reached a qualitatively new stage. Today, this partnership is characterized by active political dialogue, important agreements were reached to deepen cooperation in trade, transport, science and education, culture, and security. The sides set clear targets to increase bilateral trade turnover to $2 billion”.

In particular, this process received a strong impetus from the official visit of Pakistan’s Prime Minister, Shehbaz Sharif, to Uzbekistan in February 2025.

It was noted that the opening of the Uzbekistan - Pakistan International Trade Centre and the Uzbekistan - Pakistan Cultural Centre in Karachi represents an important institutional step toward strengthening economic cooperation. These platforms serve not only to promote industrial and agricultural products, but also to strengthen cultural ties between our peoples.

“Cooperation in transport and logistics represents another priority area in Uzbekistan - Pakistan relations. The Trans - Afghan Railway project, connecting “Uzbekistan, Afghanistan and Pakistan”, holds significant potential as a strategic transport corridor linking Central and South Asia. In addition, agreements reached to develop air cargo transportation between Tashkent and Karachi, including the delivery of agricultural products, are gaining practical importance”, - Pakistani media note.

The “roundtable” provided an opportunity to discuss these pressing issues as well as to develop approaches for a new qualitative stage of the strategic partnership and to advance concrete initiatives in trade, transport, education, science, culture, and tourism.

Within the framework of the event, special attention was paid to strengthening ties among the analytical, academic, and business communities of Uzbekistan and Pakistan.

“During the “roundtable”, practical recommendations were developed for inclusion in the agenda of the high-level dialogue, and new initiatives were put forward to enhance Pakistan’s cooperation with Central Asian countries. Participants unanimously emphasized that today, , cooperation between Uzbekistan and Pakistan is turning into a strong bridge built on trust, pragmatism, and shared interests. The roundtable discussion held in Tashkent has become an essential step toward further expanding and strengthening this bridge”, - Pakistani media reported.