Pakistan, Uzbekistan agree to early finalisation of PTA, TTA

Prime Minister Imran Khan has underlined the need for strengthening trade and economic cooperation between Pakistan and Uzbekistan.

The prime minister made these remarks during a virtual summit with Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev on Wednesday.

The prime minister stressed for early finalisation of the Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) and Transit Trade Agreement (TTA) between the two countries. He also underlined the importance of enhancing political and diplomatic linkages as well as security and defence cooperation between Pakistan and Uzbekistan.

He said that steps also need to be taken to deepen mutual collaboration in the fields of education, culture, and tourism. The prime minister highlighted Pakistan’s economic security paradigm and the shifting focus to geo-economics.

The level of progress on the Trans-Afghan Railway Line Project, agreed among Pakistan, Uzbekistan and Afghanistan earlier this year, was reviewed during the summit. The project would be a first step in linking the Central Asian transport network with Pakistani seaports of Gwadar, Karachi and Qasim.

The prime minister also underscored the importance of rail, road and air connectivity and highlighted the enormous potential that exists in diverse fields to build an expanded mutually beneficial partnership. The prime minister stated that once completed, the initiative would transform the geo-economic dynamics of the entire regime.