RAWALPINDI: Pakistan and Uzbekistan on Tuesday reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral cooperation in the railway sector and advancing regional connectivity. This commitment was made during a meeting between Federal Minister for Railways Hanif Abbasi and Ambassador of Uzbekistan Alisher Tukhtaev.

During the meeting, both sides discussed a range of issues of mutual interest, with particular emphasis on enhancing collaboration in railway infrastructure development, freight transportation, logistics and the exchange of technical expertise.

They also agreed to further strengthen institutional ties between their respective railway authorities and ensure long-term and sustainable cooperation. Speaking on the occasion, Mr Abbasi called the Uzbekistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan (UAP) Railway Corridor as a landmark project, which would play a pivotal role in promoting regional trade, economic integration and connectivity.

He said the initiative represented a historic step toward linking Central Asian countries with Pakistan’s seaports, creating new opportunities for commerce, investment and economic growth across the region.

The minister reiterated Pakistan’s unwavering commitment to the timely completion of the UAP Railway Corridor, saying that the project would significantly enhance transportation networks and facilitate greater economic cooperation among participating nations.

He emphasised that Pakistan highly valued its longstanding and brotherly relationship with Uzbekistan and believed that deeper bilateral cooperation will unlock new avenues for regional connectivity, shared prosperity and sustainable economic development.

Ambassador Alisher Tukhtaev expressed Uzbekistan’s keen interest in expanding cooperation with Pakistan in the railway sector and other areas of mutual interest. He underscored the importance of continued collaboration between the two countries to advance regional development goals and strengthen economic ties.

Published in Dawn, June 17th, 2026