Over the past two years, Islamabad and Tashkent have built an impressive architecture of engagement, frequent ministerial exchanges, business delegations, institutional working groups and now an expanding preferential trade framework. The reported 10 percent increase in bilateral trade last year, with Pakistan’s exports to Uzbekistan growing by 12 percent, is encouraging. Yet when measured against the ambitious target of $2 billion in two-way trade, current volumes remain modest. This gap between potential and performance is precisely what both ministers acknowledged, using unusually candid language about the need to “materialize” opportunities.
The high-level meeting in Islamabad between Pakistan’s Federal Minister for Commerce Jam Kamal Khan and Uzbekistan’s Minister for Investment, Industry and Trade Laziz Kudratov was more than a routine diplomatic engagement. It reflected a growing recognition in both capitals that Pakistan–Uzbekistan relations have entered a decisive phase: the time has come to convert political goodwill and policy frameworks into real trade flows, investment projects and joint ventures that can reshape the economic geography of Central and South Asia.
Trade facilitation lies at the heart of this challenge. The expansion of the preferential product list from 34 to 92 items is a positive step, but paper concessions alone do not move containers. What will matter is sustained implementation, harmonized standards, efficient customs procedures and above all reliable logistics. In this regard, the discussion on alternative trade corridors was especially significant. With traditional routes often disrupted by geopolitical tensions and border constraints, Pakistan and Uzbekistan are being forced to think creatively about connectivity through China and the northern corridor, including Kashgar as a logistics and warehousing hub.
The proposal for a multi-country “green corridor” involving Pakistan, China and Central Asian partners could be a game-changer if pursued with seriousness. By reducing red tape, improving predictability and ensuring smoother transit of goods, such a framework would not only lower costs but also give exporters and investors the confidence they need to commit capital. For Pakistan, whose exporters struggle with delayed shipments and volatile routes, this is not a luxury, it is a necessity.
Equally important is the investment and industrial dimension of the partnership. The presence of 228 Pakistani companies in Uzbekistan, with 80 new registrations in a single year, signals strong business interest. But the relationship should no longer be one-sided. Uzbekistan’s interest in investing in Pakistan’s food security, meat production, rice cultivation and mining sectors could bring much-needed capital, technology and market access. In mining in particular, Uzbekistan’s decades of experience in geological surveying, laboratories and advanced extraction methods could help Pakistan unlock the value of its vast but underdeveloped mineral resources.
Agriculture and value-added exports also offer fertile ground for cooperation. Joint ventures in livestock, rice varieties, processed foods and halal meat could help Pakistan move beyond raw commodity exports toward higher-margin, standards-compliant products for regional and global markets. Here, investment-backed models, not just trade, will be the key to scaling up.
Ultimately; the Islamabad meeting underscored a simple truth: Pakistan–Uzbekistan ties have moved beyond symbolism. What is now required is disciplined follow-up, empowered institutions and strong business-to-business linkages. If the two countries can align their logistics, standards and investment strategies, the $2 billion trade target will no longer look aspirational, it will look inevitable.