Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — Prime Minister of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, held a meeting with Uzbekistan’s Ambassador, Alisher Tukhtaev, according to the Dunyo news agency.

Shehbaz Sharif conveyed his warm greetings to the President of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, and expressed sincere gratitude for the hospitality extended to him and his delegation during their visit to Tashkent.

The Pakistani Prime Minister highlighted the significant progress made in bilateral relations as a result of the visit, emphasizing their advancement to a new level. In particular, he underscored the establishment of the High-Level Strategic Partnership Council and the signing of key agreements and memorandums across various sectors.

Sharif stated that upon his return from Tashkent, he instructed relevant ministers to promptly begin implementing the agreements reached.

Special attention was given to economic diplomacy, identifying priority areas for trade and economic cooperation, and increasing mutual trade volumes. The Prime Minister stressed the need to develop a "roadmap" to boost trade turnover between the two countries to $2 billion.

Discussions also covered prospects for industrial cooperation and investment partnerships, particularly in the automotive industry, mining, IT sector, renewable energy, construction materials production, and infrastructure development projects.

A strong emphasis was placed on creating an effective platform for direct dialogue between business communities, simplifying interbank transactions, and organizing regular business forums and interregional cooperation events.

Additionally, the parties underscored the importance of expediting the Trans-Afghan railway project, increasing the number of direct flights and expanding their geography, as well as promoting tourism and cultural events as integral components of regional connectivity.