building No. 80-82, Abdulla Avloniy Street, Yakkasaroy Tumani, Tashkent, Uzbekistaan
A conference titled “Uzbekistan–Pakistan: Strategic Partnership, Connectivity, and Sustainable Development in a Changing World” was held today in Tashkent in a hybrid format.
The conference was co-hosted by the Institute for Strategic and Interregional Studies under the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the Institute of Regional Studies of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan in Uzbekistan.
The conference was well attended by senior government officials, diplomats, scholars, policy experts, and representatives of leading think tanks, research intuitions and academics from both countries, reflecting strong interest in further strengthening Pakistan–Uzbekistan strategic partnership and advancing regional connectivity and sustainable development.
The conference provided a platform to exchange views on the evolving regional and global environment and its implications for Uzbekistan–Pakistan relations. Discussions focused on strengthening the strategic partnership between the two countries, enhancing connectivity between Central and South Asia, promoting sustainable economic development, advancing trade and transport corridors, addressing regional security challenges, and fostering coordinated approaches to regional integration.
Addressing the conference, Ambassador Ahmed Farooq, highlighted that relations between Pakistan and Uzbekistan have entered a qualitatively new phase of strategic partnership, grounded in mutual trust, shared historical and civilizational ties, and converging long-term interests. He emphasized the centrality of connectivity in bilateral relations, underscoring Pakistan’s role as the most feasible and cost-effective gateway to the Arabian Sea for Central Asia. He underlined the significance of Pakistan and Uzbekistan’s geo-strategic locations positioning both countries as a key regional hubs in South and Central Asia respectively. The Ambassador also highlighted the strong political commitment of the leadership of both countries, the positive trajectory of bilateral trade, the transformative potential of regional connectivity initiatives, and the importance of people-to-people contacts, particularly youth engagement.
The conference concluded with the shared view that the discussions generated tangible inputs and practical recommendations to support the Pakistan–Uzbekistan strategic partnership. Participants emphasized the value of sustained and institutionalized expert dialogue to deepen bilateral cooperation, advance the regional connectivity agenda, and contribute to sustainable development and stability in Central and South Asia.