ISLAMABAD: President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev arrived in Islamabad on Thursday on a two-day state visit, underscoring the growing momentum in Pakistan–Uzbekistan relations, according to an official statement.
Mirziyoyev, accompanied by a high-level delegation of senior cabinet members and business leaders, landed at Nur Khan Airbase, where he was accorded a red-carpet welcome by President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
A 21-gun salute was presented in honor of the visiting president, while a contingent of the Pakistan Armed Forces offered a static salute. A tri-services band performed at the airport as children dressed in traditional attire waved the national flags of Pakistan and Uzbekistan and presented bouquets to the guest.
Information Minister Attaullah Tarar and Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Haroon Akhtar were also present at the reception.
During his visit, the Uzbek president is scheduled to hold a meeting with President Zardari and delegation-level talks with PM Sharif. He will also address the Pakistan–Uzbekistan Business Forum, bringing together business leaders from both countries.
“The visit will focus on reviewing the entire spectrum of bilateral relations and identifying new avenues for cooperation,” an official statement said, adding that discussions would cover trade, energy, defense, education, people-to-people exchanges and regional connectivity.
PM Sharif has described the visit as an opportunity to “further strengthen the close and brotherly ties between Pakistan and Uzbekistan and translate political understanding into concrete economic outcomes.”
This is President Mirziyoyev’s second visit to Pakistan, reflecting what officials described as the “upward trajectory” of bilateral relations, rooted in shared history, cultural linkages and a common vision for peace and prosperity in Central and South Asia.
