Pakistan, Uzbekistan push to expand PTA, lift trade

ISLAMABAD:

Pakistan and Uzbekistan have accelerated efforts to expand their Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) and push bilateral trade to $2 billion within two years, following talks in Tashkent between Ihsaan Afzal, Coordinator to the Prime Minister on Commerce and Industry, and Shohrukh Gulamov, Uzbekistan's Deputy Minister of Investment, Industry and Trade.

According to an official statement issued on Friday, both sides reaffirmed their commitment to scale up economic engagement in line with the vision of the Prime Minister of Pakistan and the President of Uzbekistan.

Talks centred on the swift expansion of the existing PTA. Gulamov confirmed that the two countries were finalising a significantly broadened product list and that a formal understanding on the upgraded agreement was expected soon.

Afzal underscored the need to standardise documentation, harmonise customs procedures and inspection protocols, and establish digital connectivity to reduce delays and improve predictability for traders. He highlighted the importance of real-time cross-border data exchange to facilitate smoother trade flows.

The Uzbek side assured full cooperation and confirmed that technical teams were working to operationalise an Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) system between the two countries' relevant authorities.

Uzbekistan identified textiles, leather, pharmaceuticals, and surgical instruments as priority sectors for joint ventures and technology transfer.

The statement added that Afzal expressed appreciation for the hospitality extended during the visit and reaffirmed Pakistan's intention to deepen economic ties with Uzbekistan.