Islamabad, Feb 5, 2026: President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev arrived in Islamabad on Thursday on a two-day state visit to Pakistan, receiving a red-carpet welcome amid ceremonial honours, underscoring the growing depth of bilateral relations between the two brotherly countries.
President Mirziyoyev, accompanied by a high-level delegation comprising senior cabinet ministers and prominent business leaders, landed at Nur Khan Airbase, where he was warmly received by President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif. Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar and Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Haroon Akhtar were also present on the occasion.
Clad in traditional Pakistani attire, children presented bouquets to the visiting dignitary as a 21-gun salute echoed in the backdrop to mark his arrival. A smartly turned-out contingent of the Pakistan Armed Forces presented a static salute, while the tri-services band performed in honour of the Uzbek president. Children lined up at the venue waved the national flags of Pakistan and Uzbekistan, adding to the ceremonial welcome.
During his visit, President Mirziyoyev is scheduled to meet President Asif Ali Zardari, hold delegation-level talks with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, and address the Pakistan-Uzbekistan Business Forum. The discussions are aimed at reviewing the entire gamut of bilateral relations and identifying new avenues to further strengthen cooperation in trade, energy, defence, education, people-to-people contacts, and regional connectivity.
This marks President Mirziyoyev’s second visit to Pakistan, reflecting the upward trajectory of Pakistan-Uzbekistan relations, rooted in shared history, faith, and common aspirations for peace and prosperity in Central and South Asia.
As part of his engagements, President Mirziyoyev, along with senior members of his delegation, paid an official visit to Global Industrial & Defence Solutions (GIDS). He was warmly received by Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, NI (M), HJ, COAS & CDF, who accompanied the delegation during the visit. The Uzbek president was briefed on GIDS’ diverse portfolio, including advanced defence solutions, industrial capabilities, and technological innovations. The delegation toured key facilities and witnessed a range of defence products, highlighting Pakistan’s growing expertise in indigenous defence production and industrial development. Both sides emphasized the importance of enhancing collaboration in defence, technology, knowledge exchange, and joint ventures.
Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif formally welcomed President Mirziyoyev at the Prime Minister’s House, where an official welcome ceremony was held. This was followed by a one-on-one meeting between the two leaders and delegation-level talks.
During the talks, the leaders highlighted the positive trajectory of bilateral relations, shaped by common historical, religious, and cultural affinities. Their discussions covered the full spectrum of cooperation, with particular emphasis on trade and investment, regional connectivity, education, and cultural exchanges. The two sides also exchanged views on regional and global issues of mutual interest and concern.
Both leaders expressed satisfaction over the growing high-level interactions and the regular meetings of bilateral institutional mechanisms. They welcomed the operationalization of the High-Level Strategic Consultative Council (HLSCC), established during Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s visit to Tashkent in February 2025, to ensure effective implementation of key decisions. The leaders also reaffirmed their commitment to implement the agreed Roadmap for bilateral cooperation.
On regional connectivity, the leaders appreciated ongoing efforts to enhance road, rail, air, and maritime links, and agreed that the Uzbekistan–Afghanistan–Pakistan (UAP) Railway Project would serve as a key driver of connectivity between Central Asia and Pakistan’s seaports.
Reaffirming multidimensional cooperation, the two leaders agreed to further enhance collaboration in mining, energy, defence, tourism, education, and culture, while reiterating their commitment to increase bilateral trade to US$2 billion.
Following the talks, President Mirziyoyev and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif unveiled plaques of Tashkent Street and Babur Park in Islamabad, symbolizing the deepening people-to-people and cultural ties between the two nations.
At a formal Agreements and MoUs Signing and Exchange Ceremony, the two leaders signed a Joint Declaration on the Outcomes of the State Visit, while a total of 28 agreements and memoranda of understanding were exchanged in diverse fields including trade and investment, mining, health, information technology, agriculture, education, research, maritime cooperation, sports, disaster management, and climate change.
Among key agreements, a bilateral trade protocol was signed to boost trade to US$2 billion. An MoU between Pakistan’s Drug Regulatory Authority and Uzbekistan’s Agency for Pharmaceutical Industry Development was concluded to strengthen cooperation in pharmaceuticals. Agreements were also signed in sports, defence cooperation, ecology and climate change, disaster risk reduction, combating illicit drug trafficking, digital technologies, agriculture and food security, maritime trade, industrial cooperation, and small and medium enterprises.
Several MoUs focused on culture, heritage, and education, including academic partnerships between Pakistani and Uzbek universities and research institutions, as well as cooperation between municipal administrations of Islamabad and Samarkand, and Peshawar and Termez. An agreement was also signed to establish an Uzbekistan–Pakistan Joint Business Council.
In recognition of President Mirziyoyev’s exceptional contributions to strengthening Pakistan-Uzbekistan relations and promoting peace and development in the region, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif conferred an honorary Doctorate of Philosophy and the title of Honorary Professor upon him at the National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST) during a special convocation held at the Prime Minister’s House.
In their remarks to the media, both leaders expressed confidence that the signed agreements and the Joint Declaration would open new avenues of cooperation. President Mirziyoyev thanked Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for the warm hospitality and invited him to Tashkent for the next round of the Pakistan-Uzbekistan High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council meeting next year.
