The Institute of Regional Studies (IRS), Islamabad, in collaboration with the Institute of Strategic and Regional Studies (ISRS), Tashkent, hosted an expert online conference titled “Pakistan and Uzbekistan: Strategic Partnership, Connectivity, and Sustainable Development in a Changing World,” bringing together senior policymakers, diplomats, and experts from both countries to explore avenues for enhanced bilateral cooperation.
The conference was held ahead of the historic visit of Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev to Pakistan scheduled for the first week of February 2026, reflecting the growing momentum in Pakistan–Uzbekistan relations.
Opening remarks were delivered by Eldor Aripov, Director of the Institute for Strategic and Interregional Studies under the President of Uzbekistan; Ambassador Jauhar Saleem, President of IRS Islamabad; Ambassador Alisher Tukhtaev, Uzbekistan’s Ambassador to Pakistan; and Ambassador Ahmed Farooq, Pakistan’s Ambassador to Uzbekistan. Speakers underscored the importance of strategic partnerships and regional connectivity in an evolving global environment.
The inaugural session on Political Dialogue and Security Issues, moderated by Bakhtiyor Mustafayev, Deputy Director of ISRS, featured Akram Umarov of the University of World Economy and Diplomacy and Muhammad Amir Rana, President of the Pakistan Institute for Peace Studies. Discussions focused on regional security dynamics, cross-border challenges, and political coordination amid shifting geopolitical realities.
The second session addressed Economic and Industrial Cooperation, with insights from Nodira Abdunazarova of Uzbekistan’s Institute of Macroeconomic and Regional Studies and Haroon Sharif, former Minister of State and Chairman of Pakistan’s Board of Investment. Speakers highlighted prospects for expanding trade, industrial collaboration, and investment linkages.
A session on Transport and Logistics Interconnectivity, moderated by Hamzah Rifaat, examined regional transport corridors and logistics integration, while the final session emphasized cooperation in human capital development, education, technology, and academic exchanges as foundations of a sustainable partnership.
The conference concluded with reaffirmed commitments to deepening Pakistan–Uzbekistan cooperation across strategic, economic, and developmental domains.
