The Joint Ministerial Commission (JMC) of Pakistan and Uzbekistan is meeting in Tashkent on Wednesday to negotiate transit transport framework agreement and take concrete steps to increase bilateral trade and cultural and scientific ties, official sources told Business Recorder here on Tuesday.
The sources said that the Pakistani delegation headed by Water and Power Minister Liaquat Jatoi includes Economic Affairs Secretary Khalid Saeed, Communications Secretary Tariq Mahmood, Adviser on Water and Power Riaz Ahmad Khan and senior officials of the ministries of agriculture, commerce and finance.
The sources also said that the second two-day JMC meeting would discuss wide range of matters, including review of visa regime, bilateral transit trade, preferential trade agreement, increased co-operation in agriculture, industry, natural resources and purchase of raw cotton from Uzbekistan.
They said that Uzbekistan is very keen to use Pakistani seaports of Karachi and Gwadar to reach the international markets as Pakistan is the shortest route of trade for this landlocked country. "We can extend the existing transit trade agreement among Pakistan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan to Uzbekistan," they added.
The sources said that Pakistan was one of the biggest exporters of goods to Uzbekistan after its independence and in 1998, bilateral trade had reached $72 million, which has now come down to mere $8 million. "Since Uzbekistan is the second largest exporter of long fibre cotton yarn in the international market, Pakistan would also discuss the import of raw cotton direct from Uzbekistan at cheaper rates," they said.
They also said that both the sides would also discuss bilateral co-operation in the development of water, power and natural resources and Pakistani technical experts would hold consultations with their Uzbek counterparts on specific project.
The sources said that Pakistan had already sent its proposals for the preferential trade agreement, which are under consideration of Uzbek government. "Pakistan can export readymade garments, cotton cloth, shoes, leather and sports goods, medical instruments, drugs, cosmetics, etc, in exchange for long fibre cotton yarn," they said.
Uzbekistan has 60 times the natural gas of Pakistan and the gas and power could be available to Pakistan for further export after building the proposed multi-billion dollar 1200-km long gas pipeline, the sources added.
Pakistan and Uzbekistan had already signed an agreement to strengthen cultural ties, and steps have been taken to combat terrorism.
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