Tashkent (Web Desk/Agencies): Pakistan and Uzbekistan on Wednesday reiterated the resolve to finalise the Strategic Partnership Agreement at the earliest to promote regional economic integration.
The bilateral ties were discussed in a bilateral meeting between Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar and President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev, on the sidelines of the 16th Summit of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) being held here.
Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to play an active role for the regional connectivity.
The leaders exchanged views on deepening bilateral cooperation in a range of areas including political, trade, economic, security, defence, and connectivity.
Expressing satisfaction at the growing level of bilateral cooperation, PM Kakar stressed the importance of sustaining the momentum.
He underlined that the recent operationalisation of Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) and Transit Trade Agreement (UPTTA) would boost bilateral trade and transit trade in addition to streamlining Economic Cooperation Organization Trade Agreement (ECOTA).
Both sides reaffirmed commitment to the early completion of Uzbekistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan railway project.
Prime Minister Kakar and President Mirziyoyev also discussed the ongoing humanitarian situation in Gaza and other regional and global developments.
Separately, PM Kakar held a meeting with ECO Secretary General Ambassador Khusrav Noziri, on the sidelines of the 16th ECO Summit in Tashkent, the Radio Pakistan reported.
They reviewed the recent developments in the Organization especially in the domain of trade, connectivity and economic cooperation.
The situation in Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) as well as the Middle East also came under discussion.
The ECO secretary general thanked PM Kakar for Pakistan’s firm support to the ECO and assured him of the commitment of the Secretariat to strengthen trade and connectivity in the region.