10-07-202656
The planned official visit of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan marks a significant milestone in our country's long-term strategy aimed at strengthening connectivity between Central and South Asia. The visit is designed to deliver concrete outcomes: elevating bilateral cooperation to a new qualitative level, deepening mutually beneficial partnerships in the economic, social, transport, and energy spheres, and contributing to regional security as a foundation for sustainable development.
Today, the global economy and the system of international relations are undergoing profound transformation. Trade corridors are being reshaped, energy security and food supply are rising to the top of policy agendas, and climate change has become a global challenge that demands cooperative rather than unilateral responses from states.
According to World Bank estimates, global logistics costs have risen by an average of 25–30 percent over the past five years, making the search for new transport corridors a strategic imperative for landlocked states.
Against this backdrop, Uzbekistan's foreign policy — grounded in the principles of openness, pragmatism, and mutual benefit — has identified strengthening connectivity with neighbouring and adjacent regions as a strategic priority. As President Shavkat Mirziyoyev has emphasised:
"The primary objective of Uzbekistan's foreign policy is to shape a peaceful, stable, and economically interconnected space around us."
Pakistan occupies a pivotal position in this strategic logic. By virtue of its geographic location, substantial domestic market, and well-developed port infrastructure, it serves as a reliable partner for Uzbekistan in securing access to South Asia.
The political foundation of Uzbek–Pakistani relations rests on the principles of mutual respect, sovereignty, and non-interference in internal affairs. These relations extend beyond bilateral interests and are becoming a factor that shapes the security architecture of the entire region.
The Afghan question constitutes one of the most consequential tests of this partnership. Uzbekistan and Pakistan view Afghanistan not as a source of threats but as a territory that can be brought to stability through economic integration. This approach is not a policy of isolation but a pragmatic development-oriented policy.
President Sh.M. Mirziyoyev stated from the United Nations podium:
"Sustainable peace cannot be achieved without integrating Afghanistan into regional economic processes."
This position is entirely consistent with Uzbekistan's national priorities in the areas of peace, security, and effective institutions.
At present, the volume of trade between Uzbekistan and Pakistan does not yet fully reflect existing potential. However, according to World Bank analysis, a reduction in transport costs could increase bilateral trade two to three times over.
From an economic perspective, Pakistan represents for Uzbekistan not merely a new market but a gateway to the broader South Asian economic space. With a population exceeding 240 million, it offers a vast consumer market for Uzbek industry.
Cooperation in ready-made textile products, food processing, agricultural commodities, pharmaceuticals, and the chemical industry holds particular promise in terms of value addition. The establishment of joint ventures in these sectors would generate thousands of new jobs, expand export capacity, and intensify technology transfer.
As President Mirziyoyev has observed:
"Economic cooperation loses its meaning if it does not serve to improve the well-being of peoples."
One of the principal constraints on Uzbekistan's foreign trade is the absence of access to seaports. This inflates logistics costs and undermines the competitiveness of export products.
According to international experts, every dollar invested in transport corridors yields an average economic return of four dollars. If trans-Afghan railway routes are implemented, the distance to seaports for Uzbekistan would decrease by 30–40 percent, and cargo transit times would be reduced from several weeks to 10–12 days.
This would substantially enhance the competitiveness of the country's export products.
The prospect of accessing South Asian and Indian Ocean markets through Pakistani ports represents a fundamentally transformative development. The realisation of trans-Afghan rail and road corridors would dramatically shorten freight transit times, lower transport costs, and position Uzbekistan to assume a new economic role as a transit state.
Mirziyoyev's remark that
"Transport infrastructure reinforces peace alongside economic development"
encapsulates the strategic significance of this direction.
According to the International Energy Agency, by 2030 energy demand across Central and South Asia will grow by more than 30 percent compared to current levels. In this context, the transition to renewable energy sources is becoming a strategic necessity.
Climate change, shrinking water resources, and rising energy demand are confronting both Uzbekistan and Pakistan with shared challenges. These cannot be addressed unilaterally — they require regional cooperation.
In recent years, Uzbekistan has launched major green energy projects, while Pakistan has practical experience in solar and wind power generation. Joint projects in renewable energy, energy efficiency, and the green economy would strengthen energy security, reduce import dependency, and ensure environmental sustainability.
Political agreements and economic contracts are important. Yet the most fundamental factor that gives relations long-term character is human connectivity. According to UNDP reports, investment in education and human capital accounts for more than 50 percent of long-term economic growth. In this regard, cooperation in education, science, and culture strengthens precisely this human foundation of Uzbek–Pakistani relations.
Student exchanges, joint scientific research, cultural forums, and growing tourism flows deepen mutual trust between the two peoples. This transforms strategic partnership into a stable relationship independent of political cycles.
The planned official visit of the President of Uzbekistan to Pakistan is not merely a diplomatic event in the bilateral calendar, but an expression of firm political will directed toward shaping a stable, interconnected, and prosperous space between Central and South Asia. The visit serves the achievement of Uzbekistan's national sustainable development goals by harmoniously combining economic growth, transport connectivity, energy security, and human capital development.
Elyorjon Saminov
Director, Sustainable Development Center