Keen as both Pakistan and Uzbekistan happen to be on enhancing economic co-operation, it is heartening to note that the talks held in Tashkent between Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz and his Uzbek counterpart, Shavkat Mirziyayev, were marked with agreement on the adoption of concrete measures, in order further to strengthen economic ties, with increased focus on trade, transport and energy, besides collaboration in security matters.
According to a news report, speaking on the occasion Shaukat Aziz pointed out Pakistan was looking at possibilities for deeper co-operation in oil and gas sectors, purchase of cotton from Uzbekistan. While saying so, he also made a pointed reference to Pakistan's desire to see Uzbekistan as part of the quadrilateral road transportation arrangement it already has with China, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, through the Karakoram Highway. More to this, he suggested that Uzbekistan could make use of the facilities at the Gwadar Port, as it makes the shortest link to the sea.
Later, the two leaders, joined by their aides for the formal talks, also discussed enhancement of co-operation in the Shanghai Co-operation Organisation (SCO) and the Economic Co-operation Organisation (ECO). Heartening, in this regard, should also be the Uzbek Prime Minister's reiteration of his country's support to Pakistan for the full membership of the SCO. Needless to point out, Pakistan happens to be a keen aspirant for that status.
In so far as ECO is concerned, the urges of the two countries for purposeful economic co-operation will be seen to have been spurred by induction of the former Soviet Central Asian Republics in this organisation. For they are based on commonality of problems and interests alike. It will be noted that the principal objectives of expanded ECO include identification of regional challenges, problems and areas of common interests in agriculture, besides priorities for technical assistance, food security, enhancement of investment and increase in agriculture-related trade.
This should also bring to the fore the emphasis on co-operation in the livestock sector, as also on the establishment of buffer zones in the border areas of the member states for animal quarantine. Considerable progress in the desired direction has, of course, been made from concerted efforts, particularly from the exchange of result-oriented visits between President Musharraf and his Uzbek counterpart. Again although they have helped identify the areas of co-operation, a great deal still remains to be desired, that is, concrete action. It will be recalled that the two countries had agreed last year to leverage their economic potentials through enhanced co-operation in agriculture and investment sectors.
Significantly, the understanding covered vital segments including livestock, marketing, agriculture research extension, and transfer of technology to their mutual benefit. The exchange of visits later between the two Presidents was marked by initialling of MoUs, with due focus on agriculture and livestock sectors. As for the slow pace of progress in the efforts actually made, attention has come to be paid to the removal of impediments. The Pak-Uzbekistan Joint Ministerial Commission's meeting was held in Tashkent last December, after a gap of 13 years.
Since then, more concerted efforts have continued to be made in the desired direction, of which Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz's latest visit to Uzbekistan was a part. A series of accords was concluded and signing, in presence of the two Prime Ministers. Important among these agreements were the ones on Transit Trade and Transportation, Assistance in Criminal and Legal Matters, besides MoUs on Co-operation between the International Islamic University and the University of Tashkent, co-operation between the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Uzbekistan Chamber of Commerce.
In so far as the significance of this visit is concerned, reference may be made to Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz's observation that he was accompanied by a large delegation of leading businessmen to interact with their counterparts in Uzbekistan and to work towards enhancing bilateral trade and commercial relations. It will also be noted that the two countries have already entered into several agreements of co-operation in various fields and agreed to establish joint ventures in pharmaceutical industry, manufacturing of medical equipment and exchange of technology in health sector. Again, on its part, Pakistan has already offered export of engineering goods, medical equipment, sports goods, and textile fabrics to Uzbekistan.
As against this, Uzbekistan has offered export of cotton fibre, silk, minerals, fertilisers, cables, construction materials, agriculture machinery, chemicals and aircraft to Pakistan. For further purposeful mutual co-operation, Pakistan has invited Uzbek investors to establish joint ventures with Pakistani businessmen in oil and gas, textiles, agriculture, leather, banking and finance, sports goods, pharmaceuticals, surgical goods, furniture, gemstone, jewellery, marble and food processing sectors. All this, should point to the tremendous potential that exists for co-operation between the two countries.
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