Uzbekistan’s New Ambassador Meets with President of Pakistan
Uzbekistan’s New Ambassador to Pakistan Presents Credentials to President Zardari
In a formal ceremony held at the Aiwan-e-Sadr Palace in Islamabad on Monday, Uzbekistan’s new Ambassador to Pakistan, Alisher Tukhtaev, presented his credentials to Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari. The meeting was an opportunity for both officials to discuss the current state of Uzbekistan-Pakistan relations and ways to further strengthen bilateral cooperation.
President Zardari praised Uzbekistan’s leadership and emphasized the deep cultural, historical, and educational ties that have long united the two nations. He also commended Uzbekistan’s economic progress and reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to enhancing collaboration in various sectors, including trade, investment, and industrial partnerships. Both sides acknowledged the vast potential for future growth in bilateral trade, setting a goal to increase trade volume to $1 billion.
Cultural, humanitarian, and tourism exchanges were also key topics of discussion. President Zardari noted the positive impact of the relaxed visa regime for Pakistani visitors to Uzbekistan and looked forward to the planned resumption of direct flights between Tashkent and Lahore in November, which is expected to boost tourism and foster stronger cultural connections between the two countries.
In closing, President Zardari wished Ambassador Tukhtaev success in his efforts to advance Uzbekistan-Pakistan relations. Tukhtaev, who assumed his new role in Islamabad on October 6, follows in the footsteps of the former Ambassador, Oybek Usmanov, who has now taken on the role of Uzbekistan’s Ambassador to Afghanistan. The meeting between Ambassador Tukhtaev and President Zardari sets a positive tone for future cooperation and partnership between Uzbekistan and Pakistan.
