ISLAMABAD: The Foreign Office on Tuesday expressed the hope that the visit of Uzbekistan’s Foreign Minister Abdulaziz Kamilov would add momentum to bilateral relations.

Mr Kamilov is expected to visit Islamabad on a two-day visit during which he would hold talks with Foreign Minis­­­ter Shah Mahmood Qureshi on bilateral ties, besides exchanging views on regional and international issues.

“The visit of Foreign Minister Kamilov will add to the momentum created by the recent high-level bilateral interactions and provide an opportunity to further strengthen and deepen the existing bilateral cooperation in all areas of common interest,” the FO said.

Common faith, shared history and cultural affinities, the FO said, provided a strong foundation for increased bilateral cooperation in various fields. The two countries, it recalled, had been closely collaborating at regional and international forums, especially at the UN, OIC, ECO and SCO.

Pakistan and Uzbekistan are working together on regional connectivity projects. They are working with Afghanistan on the construction of Trans-Afghan Rail­way Project, which would connect the three countries.

A roadmap for the construction of Trans-Afghan Rail­way Project was signed by the three countries during the visit of Adviser to the Prime Minister on Commer­­ce and Investment Razzak Dawood to Tashkent last month.

Published in Dawn, March 10th, 2021