ISLAMABAD, Tuesday, June 23, 2026 (WNP): Pakistan and Uzbekistan have reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthening bilateral cooperation across a wide range of sectors, including trade, economy, agriculture, transport, education and cultural heritage, during a meeting between Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives, Professor Ahsan Iqbal, and Ambassador of Uzbekistan to Pakistan, Alisher Tukhtaev.
Describing the meeting as highly constructive, Ahsan Iqbal said both sides exchanged views on deepening cooperation in key sectors of mutual interest and agreed to capitalize on the longstanding friendship between the two countries.
He said Pakistan and Uzbekistan enjoy historic, cultural and people-to-people ties that provide a strong foundation for expanding strategic cooperation and regional connectivity.
The two sides reviewed opportunities to enhance collaboration in higher education through greater academic cooperation, student and faculty exchange programmes, and joint initiatives aimed at strengthening educational linkages between the two countries.
They also discussed the importance of improving regional connectivity by expanding direct air links to facilitate trade, tourism, investment and people-to-people contacts.
During the meeting, both sides explored the possibility of jointly producing a historical television drama series on the life and legacy of Zahir-ud-Din Muhammad Babur, with the objective of highlighting the shared Islamic and cultural heritage of Pakistan and Uzbekistan.
The discussions also focused on promoting stronger economic integration and exploring new avenues for bilateral cooperation that would contribute to sustainable development and regional prosperity.
Ahsan Iqbal reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to working closely with Uzbekistan to promote economic stability, regional connectivity, peace and shared prosperity, while both sides expressed confidence that enhanced cooperation would further strengthen the longstanding brotherly relations between the two countries.
