Uzbekistan’s new ambassador presents credentials to the President of Pakistan

During discussions following the formal ceremony, both officials addressed the current state of Uzbekistan-Pakistan relations and explored avenues for deepening bilateral cooperation. President Zardari expressed respect for Uzbekistan’s leadership and highlighted the strong cultural, historical, and educational bonds that form the foundation of the long-standing brotherhood between the two nations.

President Zardari commended Uzbekistan's economic progress and reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to enhancing cooperation, especially in trade, investment, and industrial partnerships. Both sides acknowledged the significant potential for mutual trade growth, with aspirations to increase bilateral trade to $1 billion.

Cultural, humanitarian, and tourism exchanges were also central to the discussions. President Zardari expressed satisfaction with the relaxed visa regime for Pakistani nationals visiting Uzbekistan and emphasized that the planned resumption of direct flights between Tashkent and Lahore in November would bolster tourism and strengthen cultural ties.

At the conclusion of the meeting, President Zardari wished Ambassador Tukhtaev success in his mission to enhance Uzbekistan-Pakistan relations. Tukhtaev, who arrived in Islamabad on October 6, succeeds Oybek Usmanov, the former Ambassador to Pakistan, who now serves as Uzbekistan's Ambassador to Afghanistan.