ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is scheduled to sign a significant transit trade agreement with Uzbekistan tomorrow, Thursday, that will allow Tashkent to utilize Pakistani seaports for much of its trade and bypass Iran, local media reported on Wednesday.
The agreement will be signed during Prime Minister Imran Khan’s visit to Tashkent to attend the Pakistan-Uzbekistan “Silk Route Reconnect” Business Forum on July 15-16.
Uzbekistan is a landlocked country which heavily relies on Iran’s Bandar Abbas port for international business and commerce.
According to The Express Tribune, the quantum of its entire trade through sea-lanes will now be shifted to Pakistani harbors since they offer the shortest possible route to the Central Asian country and promise to bring down logistical costs.
“The agreement between Uzbekistan and Pakistan has been negotiated and finalized, covering trade and transit of goods by road and rail along with customs procedures,” Tribune said.
Pakistani officials made the offer to the Uzbek authorities during the visit of Deputy Prime Minister Sardor Umurzakov to Islamabad last September.
The agreement will be a major stride toward Pakistan’s vision for greater regional connectivity and help the country tap into an over $90 billion Central Asian export market.
Earlier this month, the prime minister’s adviser on commerce Abdul Razzak Dawood told Arab News in an exclusive interview that the two countries would “sign a number of agreements, including transit and preferential trade agreements” during the occasion.
He added the agreements would help his country diversify its export market outside of Europe and the United States.
“Pakistani exporters have been concentrating on Europe, UK, America, Japan and Korea but there is a much bigger world so one of our policies is to look at the Central Asia republics and that is why we have selected this ‘Silk Route Reconnect’ theme and we have selected Uzbekistan,” Dawood said. “Uzbekistan is the only country that is connected with all Central Asian republics and they have very good infrastructure.”
The Express Tribune reported that the transit trade agreement would require the trade to take place through “pre-determined routes and only utilize specified ports and border crossings.”
It will also allow Pakistani and Uzbek truck drivers to cover the whole distance and their drivers’ licenses will be recognized by both governments.
PM Khan to sign transit deal to shift Uzbekistan’s trade from Iran to Pakistan
https://arab.news/jp2c8
PM Khan to sign transit deal to shift Uzbekistan’s trade from Iran to Pakistan
- Agreement to be signed during Prime Minister Khan’s visit to Tashkent for “Silk Route Reconnect” summit on July 15-16
- Pakistan hopes to get access to over $90 billion Central Asian export market by utilizing agreement with Uzbekistan
Pakistan opposition ends protests, PTI forms ‘Imran Khan Release Force’ for jailed ex-PM
- Opposition alliance ends week-long protests over Khan’s health concerns
- Party announces nationwide membership drive for “peaceful” mobilization
ISLAMABAD: A Pakistani opposition alliance on Wednesday called off nationwide sit-ins held over jailed former prime minister Imran Khan’s health, while his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party announced a new mobilization campaign, including the formation of an “Imran Khan Release Force.”
Pakistan has faced months of political confrontation between Khan’s party and the government since his arrest in 2023, with repeated protests, court battles and accusations by PTI that authorities are attempting to sideline its leader from politics, allegations the government denies.
Tensions have intensified in recent weeks after concerns emerged about Khan’s health in prison. Khan’s lawyer told Pakistan’s Supreme Court last week that the ex-cricketer had lost significant vision in his right eye while in custody, while a medical board said the swelling had reduced after treatment and his vision had improved. Since last week, the Tehreek-i-Tahafuz-i-Ayin-i-Pakistan (TTAP) opposition alliance has been holding a days-long sit-in at Parliament House over Khan’s health concerns.
“All sit-ins including the one at parliament have been called off,” Hussain Ahmad Yousafzai, a spokesperson for the alliance, told Arab News.
Separately, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Muhammad Sohail Afridi told reporters the party was preparing for an organized political movement to demand their leader’s release.
“After continuous violations of court orders, an organized public struggle has now become inevitable,” Afridi said, announcing the creation of an “Imran Khan Release Force,” with membership open to youth across the country.
Afridi said the organization would include PTI’s student, youth, women, minority and professional wings and would conduct a “completely peaceful struggle,” adding that Khan himself would dissolve the body after his release.
He said membership cards would be issued within days and supporters would take oath in Peshawar after Eid, with a formal chain of command operating under leadership designated by Khan.
“This struggle is for real freedom, supremacy of the constitution and law, democracy and free media,” Afridi said.
Imran Khan, 73, a former cricket star who served as prime minister from 2018 to 2022, was removed from office in a parliamentary vote of no confidence that he says was orchestrated by political rivals with backing from the military. Both the government and armed forces deny the allegation.
Khan has been jailed since August 2023 after convictions he and his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party call politically motivated.
Broadcast outlets have been restricted from airing Khan’s name and speeches or even showing his image. Only a single court photograph has been publicly available since his imprisonment.
PTI swept to power in 2018 and retains a large support base across key provinces.
