20 February 2005	Sunday	10 Muharram 1426

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ISLAMABAD, Feb 19: President Gen Pervez Musharraf will embark on his first official visit to Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan in the first week of March.

It will be the first visit by a Pakistani head of the state to the two Central Asian republics in almost a decade. Former president Farooq Leghari visited the countries in 1996.

During the expected four-day trip, the president will hold talks with his counterparts on expanding bilateral cooperation. Pakistan has over 100 agreements with the two countries but the relations have lacked high-level contacts.

"The visit has political as well as economic significance and its primary objective is to give an impetus to relations by increasing bilateral trade and economic cooperation," sources said.

Pakistan has established joint economic commissions with both the countries. With the Gwadar port, Pakistan will provide the Central Asian states the shortest route to sea. The country also wants access to the Central Asian markets through Afghanistan.