ISLAMABAD: The transit trade agreement (TTA) between Pakistan and Uzbekistan will allow regional countries to expand their trade and transit horizons.

This was highlighted by Uzbek Ambassador Aybek Arif Usmanov while speaking at a round-table conference organised to commemorate 30 years of diplomatic relations between Uzbekistan and Pakistan. The conference was hosted by Centre for Central Asia and Eurasian Studies-Institute of Peace and Diplomatic Studies in collaboration with the Embassy of Uzbekistan.

Terming the Uzbekistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan railway project an anchor for regional peace and prosperity, Mr Usmanov said the project would soon materialise, making regional re-connectivity possible.

Pakistan and Uzbekistan have diversified relations and made a substantial contribution towards regional peace and stability, he said, adding that both countries have developed stronger and deeper ties in trade and economics, health, security, agriculture and information technology.

He said cooperation between the two countries was building with each passing day, adding that, “there are growing investments from each other’s side where people-to-people ties have been diversified”.

Mr Usmanov said there was ever deeper and close cooperation in political, economic and security areas.

In her opening remarks, Institute of Peace and Diplomatic Studies President Farhat Asif highlighted the significance of relations between Pakistan and Uzbekistan and about chairmanship of Uzbekistan in Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) where the country had made substantial contributions by hosting scores of events of diversified nature.

Prof Dr Manzoor Hussain Soomro, president of ECO Science Foundation, highlighted the importance of human development while discussing youth engagement.

Speaking from Tashkent, Kabuljon Sabirov, director, SCO Centre for Public Diplomacy in Uzbekistan highlighted how strong people-to-people ties are building between Pakistan and Uzbekistan, especially at the level of SCO.

Dr Amna Mehmood, professor, Department of Politics and International Relations at International Islamic University said there was a need for Pakistan and Uzbekistan to work together to promote peace in Afghanistan.

Through enhanced security and political cooperation, countries can resolve common challenges, she said.

Mukhlisa Shayakhmetova, head of the Urdu language department at Tashkent State University of Oriental Studies, joined virtually and spoke in Urdu about deep-rooted fraternal Pak-Uzbek ties.

She also highlighted the intellectual and academic contribution of legendary scholars towards enriching the language and literature from both sides.

Finally, Dr Rashid Aftab, director of Riphah Institute of Public Policy thanked all speakers and participants for their contribution to the roundtable.

The students, faculty members, scholars, senators, businessmen, and representatives from local media attended the roundtable.

Published in Dawn, July 23rd, 2022