ISLAMABAD: Senior officials from Pakistan, Uzbekistan and Afghanistan meet next week in Tashkent to discuss a trilateral meeting on a potential railway project to lay a railway line connecting Termez, Mazar-i-Sharif, Kabul and Peshawar for trade and to promote the region.
Prime Minister and Chairman of the Board of Investment (BoI) Azfar Ahsan has left Islamabad for Tashkent to attend the trilateral meeting.
In addition to the trilateral meeting, Mr Ahsan will also attend the Tashkent International Investment Forum, which will be held from March 24 to 26.
The Uzbekistan president is particularly interested in laying the railway line with Pakistan across Afghanistan for his future trade and business activities. Uzbekistan, as a landlocked country, was dependent on Iran’s trade routes for its imports and exports and sanctions on Iran made it difficult for Uzbekistan to continue to use the same route.
BoI President will interact with potential investors from many countries for B2B meetings in Tashkent
The proposed railway connection has also been discussed on several international forums, including the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO).
During his visit to Pakistan earlier this month, Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev reaffirmed the important role of the railway project that unites the three countries for the future of the region.
Pakistan and Uzbekistan have agreed to develop a joint roadmap, which will include measures to develop a feasibility study for the project and start construction work on both sides.
The trans-Afghan railway project is said to be the most economical and shortest route connecting Central Asia with the Pakistani ports of Karachi, Gwadar and Port Qasim.
Both countries have already signed the Bilateral Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) and the implementation of the Transit Trade Agreement. These agreements mark the beginning of a new era in bilateral trade relations and will serve to enhance mutual trade by taking advantage of existing opportunities.
The Tashkent International Investment Forum is convened under the theme “Realing New Growth Agenda” and expects to bring together over 200 leaders from government, business, civil society and academia to discuss and shape regional and industry agendas.
The BoI President, who will be the keynote speaker at the forum’s inaugural meeting, will also meet with Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev on the forum’s page and will interact with potential investors from many countries as head of the Pakistan Business-to-Delegation. Business (B2B) meetings.
A BoI official says Mr Ahsan’s visit is of great importance to Pakistan on a diplomatic and economic front, as it comes at a time when strategic relations between Uzbekistan and Pakistan are moving in an upward trajectory.
The BoI President foresees that the visit will culminate in fruitful economic cooperation between the three countries and further strengthen diplomatic and strategic relations.
The forum aims to explore areas of trilateral cooperation between Uzbekistan, Pakistan and Afghanistan and discusses the investment potential of Central Asia, trade flow in Central Asia, digitalisation of transport systems, attracting investment in the tourism sector, production modernization and new agricultural Markets.
Mr Ahsan, during his visit, will also hold a meeting with Uzbek Transport Minister I. Makhkamov and the head of the Afghan delegation in Termez. Discussions focus on the available conditions of freight transport in Pakistan and proposals to increase the volume of traffic between the three countries are discussed from Pakistan’s perspective.
Published in Dawn, March 21st, 2022
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