Huge scope for Uzbek-Pak cooperation in religious tourism

Uzbek ambassador says Tashkent keen to enhance bilateral ties

ISLAMABAD: Sharing long cultural and religious ties, both Uzbekistan and Pakistan have opportunities to enhance wide-ranging bilateral economic cooperation and religious ties.

This was stated by Uzbekistan’s Ambassador Furqat Sidiqov during an interview with DNA on Monday.

“Our relations are tied with deep historical, religious and cultural bonds,” Sidiqov said, adding that even Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev paid great attention to the development of bilateral relations with Pakistan, including in trade, economy, apart from investment and other areas of cooperation.

As a result, trade turnover between Uzbekistan and Pakistan in the fiscal year 2018-19 rose three times to around $100 million.

With the economic cooperation between Uzbekistan and Pakistan reaching its highest-ever levels in recent years, Tashkent remains keen to further develop bilateral ties with Islamabad in 2020 to achieve more effective results for mutual benefit, he added.

“Investment is the driver of the economy. New technologies, advanced experiences and highly qualified specialists have come with investments in all sectors of Uzbekistan, business is rapidly developing,” Sidiqov said.

To boost bilateral ties, particularly to promote people-to-people relations, Sidiqov said that direct flights from Lahore to Tashkent resumed in 2017. Over the past three years, some 12,000 passengers from Pakistan have travelled to and fro to Uzbekistan. Moreover, for a while, it served as the only bridge between Pakistan and Central Asian countries.

Ziarat tourism

“The initiative of Uzbekistan’s president started to develop ‘Ziarat Tourism’ for foreign pilgrims. This direction of tourism quickly developed and created the most favourable conditions for tourists,” Sidiqov said, adding that it opened the door for religious tourism in the country.

“Uzbekistan is the land of great Islamic scholars and thinkers such as Al- Khorazmiy, Al –Beruniy, Imom Al – Bukhariy, Bahouddin Naqshbandiy, Al – Motrudiy, At –Termiziy and others,” he said, adding that pilgrims from all over the world visit their shrines for Ziarat and to pay their respects.

The Uzbek envoy pointed out that people from Pakistan expressed their keen desire to visit Uzbekistan for Ziarat.

“Ancient and precious cities such as Samarkand, Bukhara, Khiva, Termez, Kokand and Namangan always attract Pakistani tourists,” he said, adding that some 7,000 Pakistani tourists visited Uzbekistan last year for Ziarat.

“We are ready to develop our cooperation in this direction this year as well,” he said, adding that development of tourism relations between the two countries has also been welcomed by President Dr Arif Alvi and Prime Ministry Imran Khan.

Sidiqov concluded that accessibility remains a key subject in establishing people-to-people relations. Hence, the significance of reopening direct flights from Tashkent-Lahore-Tashkent in April 2017.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 7^th, 2020.