ISLAMABAD, Aug 14 (DNA): Ambassador of Uzbekistan to Pakistan, Alisher Tukhtaev has extended warm felicitations to the government and people of Pakistan on the occasion of the country’s 80th Independence Day, expressing confidence that bilateral relations between the two brotherly countries will continue to expand across diverse fields.
In a special video message, Ambassador Tukhtaev said the leadership of Uzbekistan and Pakistan, particularly President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev and the Prime Minister of Pakistan, Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif were firmly committed to deepening bilateral ties, integrating the two economies and exploring new avenues of cooperation.
The envoy described independence as far more than a political concept, saying it was reflected in the everyday lives and aspirations of ordinary people.
“Independence is not an abstract word. It is the smile of a child walking to school with bright eyes and his first book in hand,” he said.
The ambassador highlighted the growing strategic and economic cooperation between Uzbekistan and Pakistan, particularly the proposed Trans-Afghan Railway project. He said the initiative was of historic significance and would create a vital link between Uzbekistan, Afghanistan and Pakistan, while also connecting the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) with South Asia.
Uzbek Ambassador extends 80th “Independence Day Greetings to People of Pakistan”
According to the ambassador, the railway would open significant opportunities for regional trade, connectivity and economic integration.
He also pointed to the rapid growth in bilateral trade, noting that the trade turnover between Uzbekistan and Pakistan exceeded $404.5 million in 2024. During the first seven months of the current year, he said, bilateral trade had already reached $350 million, registering a 126 percent increase compared with the corresponding period of the previous year.
Ambassador Tukhtaev noted that a range of initiatives, including trade exhibitions, the establishment of trade houses, new air links and cultural exchanges, were contributing to stronger people-to-people and business ties and bringing the two countries closer to the $2 billion trade target.
Concluding his message, Ambassador Tukhtaev conveyed his best wishes on behalf of the leadership and people of Uzbekistan for the peace, prosperity and continued progress of the brotherly people of Pakistan.
“May the Pakistani flag always fly high, its people remain prosperous, and every home be filled with peace, love and hope,” he said, while praying for Pakistan’s strength, unity and a bright future.
