LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz and Pakistan Muslim League-N President Nawaz Sharif on Wednesday met Tashkent Region Governor Zoir Mirzaev, who called on them along with a seven-member delegation.
Both sides agreed to declare Punjab and Tashkent as sister provinces and decided to form a special committee to advance bilateral cooperation. They discussed opportunities for collaboration in tourism, agriculture, livestock, meat processing, beverages, citrus fruit and other sectors. A proposal from Uzbekistan to establish a Babur Park in Lahore also came under consideration.
The Tashkent governor praised the restoration of Mughal-era heritage sites in Lahore and commended the efforts of Punjab government in preserving historical landmarks. He conveyed a message of goodwill from the president of Uzbekistan for the people of Pakistan, particularly those in Punjab.
Maryam thanked him for the sentiments and accepted an invitation to visit Uzbekistan. She said the people of Pakistan took pride in Uzbekistan’s rich cultural and scholarly heritage, noting that Samarkand had historically been a centre of knowledge and learning.
Mirzaev described his meeting with Nawaz as an honour and expressed optimism about expanding social and economic cooperation between Pakistan and Uzbekistan. He said Uzbekistan offered significant opportunities for collaboration in sectors including tourism, pharmaceuticals and agriculture, adding that demand for textiles — particularly polyester — was high in Uzbekistan and Pakistani companies would be welcomed for joint ventures.
Maryam said Uzbekistan was a brotherly country and emphasised the importance of strengthening bilateral, social and economic ties.
