ISLAMABAD: Uzbekistan is set to launch direct flights to Karachi, according to Uzbek Ambassador to Pakistan, Alisher Tukhtaev.

The announcement follows Tukhtaev's recent visit to Karachi, where he addressed members of the business community, including representatives from the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) and Karachi Chambers of Commerce and Industry (KCCI). Tukhtaev highlighted the recent introduction of direct flights between Tashkent and Lahore, emphasizing Uzbekistan's commitment to enhancing people-to-people connections. He referred to the upcoming direct flights from Uzbekistan to Karachi as a crucial step in strengthening bilateral ties, especially in terms of regional connectivity. This development aligns with Pakistan's ongoing efforts to enhance its role as a central trade and transit hub, connecting landlocked Central Asian countries to global markets through its strategic geographical location. The announcement follows a series of visits, investment talks, and economic exchanges between Pakistan and Central Asian nations.

Earlier this year, in February 2023, Pakistan and Uzbekistan signed a landmark $1 billion agreement aimed at boosting bilateral trade. The deal, which took place during the eighth meeting of the Inter-governmental Commission on Trade-Economic and Scientific-Technical Cooperation in Tashkent, focuses on increasing the exchange of goods and services between the two nations. Ambassador Tukhtaev also shared that Uzbekistan had introduced a soft visa regime for Pakistani citizens in September 2023, making it easier for businesspeople and tourists to travel between the two countries. He further noted that trade between Uzbekistan and Pakistan had tripled in recent years, reaching $387 million in 2023, up from $122 million in 2019. The ambassador emphasized the vast untapped opportunities for collaboration in sectors such as textiles, pharmaceuticals, leather, food processing, and agribusiness. He also commended the success of the "Made in Pakistan" exhibition held in Tashkent in June 2024, which provided a platform for entrepreneurs from both countries to explore new trade and investment opportunities. Looking ahead, Tukhtaev announced plans for a "Made in Uzbekistan" industrial exhibition in Karachi later this year, which he believes will further strengthen economic ties.

He encouraged Pakistani businesses to seize investment opportunities in Uzbekistan, highlighting the country's liberal business environment and welcoming the idea of organizing business-to-business meetings and trade delegations.