By Asghar Ali Mubarak
ISLAMABAD: Uzbekistan ambassador to Pakistan Aybek Arif Usmanov Monday called on Minister for Interior Sheikh Rashid Ahmed and discussed matters pertaining to mutual interests and existing ties between the two brotherly countries.
During the meeting, the two sides also reviewed progress on visa agreements, and deliberated on exploring ways and means to further promote cooperation in trade and tourism sectors.
The minister said both the countries enjoyed ancient religious and cultural ties, adding Uzbekistan was the custodian of great Islamic heritage. He stressed the need for further strengthening of the contacts between the two countries, which were inter-connected with the Islamic relation. Sheikh Rashid said Pakistan had provided special visa facilities to Uzbek nationals as they would also be given a five-day transit visa to enter Pakistan.
The Uzbek envoy said Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) flight operation on Lahore-Tashkent had been restored from July 2, expressing confidence that the increased air travel facilities would help promote trade and tourism between the two countries.
Earlier in March, Pakistan and Uzbekistan were agreed to enhance trade relations while discussing the progress made on bilateral transit trade agreement, Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA), banking and visa issues, and aviation and customs cooperation. The discussions came during video call between Adviser to Prime Minister on Commerce and Investment Abdul Razak Dawood and Uzbek Deputy Prime Minister Sardor Umurzakov.
During the virtual meeting, both sides expressed the desire to cooperate with each other to implement decisions made during the adviser’s visit to Tashkent from February 1-3, 2021, as per the agreed timelines.
