Minister for Religious Affairs Muhammad Ejazul Haq Tuesday said Pakistan and Uzbekistan enjoy cordial brotherly relations which are further improving with each passing day.

He was addressing the inaugural session of three-day conference on "Tashkent-the Capital of Islamic Culture" jointly organised by International Islamic University (IIU), Society of Asian Civilizations (SAC) and Embassy of Uzbekistan.

"Both Pakistan and Uzbekistan are active members of Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) and have been playing an effective role to defend the interests of Muslim Ummah," he said.

The minister said that Muslim countries were rich in natural resources and there was a need to utilize them in best possible manner for the benefit of the Muslim world.

Referring to incidents of global terrorism, he said, root causes of this threat must be eliminated to ensure peace and security around the world.

Lauding the services of Imam Bukhari, one of the most eminent Muslim scholars of Uzbekistan, the minister said he devoted his life to promote peace and harmony across the world.

Ambassador of Uzbekistan Oybek Arif Usman said the announcement of Tashkent as the world capital of Islamic culture in 2007 was a recognition of the contribution of Uzbekistan after its independence to Islamic culture.

Usman said Uzbek people were well aware of the great contribution of philosopher poet Allama Muhammad Iqbal and one of the beautiful streets in Uzbek city Bukhara-e-Sharif was named after him.

Founder member of SAC Dr. Razia Sultana said Tashkent has rich cultural heritage and this land witnessed peak periods of great civilizations of the world.

She said Arab people had arrived in Chach after which the Islamic culture and heritage greatly influenced the Central Asian countries.

IIU President Dr. Anwar Hussain Siddiqui said that some 12,000 students--7,000 male and 5,000 female—were studying in the university which was imparting education in nine disciplines.

Dr. Anwar said the university has also established three institutions to promote Islamic culture which included Shariah Academy, Dawah Academy and Central Library.