President Mamnoon Hussain was accorded warm welcome on his arrival in the Uzbek capital on Wednesday to attend the 16th heads of state meeting of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO). Uzbekistan’s Prime Minister Shavkat Mirziyoyav received the President as he arrived at the Tashkent One Airport.
Advisor to Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz and Foreign Secretary Aizaz Chaudhry accompanied the President.
A contingent of armed forces presented a salute to the President. Young girls attired in traditional Uzbek costumes presented bouquets to the President.
President Mamnoon Hussain and the Uzbek Prime Minister also held a meeting before leaving the airport lounge and exchanged views on bilateral matters. The two sides also discussed the significance of the SCO summit which will grant full membership to Pakistan.
Uzbek Foreign Minister Abdul Aziz Kamalov, Uzbek Ambassador to Pakistan Furqat Sidiqov and Pakistan’s Ambassador Riaz H. Bukhari were present.
The President earlier made a stopover in Samarkand where he visited the mausoleums of Imam Bukhari and Amir Temur.
During his stay in Tashkent, the President besides attending the SCO summit will hold sideline meetings with Chinese president Xi Jinping, Uzbek President Islam Karimov and Tajikistan’s President Emomali Rahmon.
In accordance with the summit agenda, the Heads of State will discuss the issues of further deepening multifaceted and mutually beneficial cooperation within the frameworks of the SCO, as well as exchange views on regional and international issues.
Pakistan became the observer state of SCO in 2005 and was the first country to apply for full membership in 2010.
-Visits mausoleums of Imam Bukhari, Amir Temur-
President Mamnoon Hussain on Wednesday visited the mausoleum of Imam Muhammad Bin Ismail Al-Bukhari, the 8th-century great scholar known for his compilation of Hadith named `Sahih Bukhari’.
The President made a stopover in Samarkand to pay respects at Imam Bukhari’s mausoleum on his way to capital Tashkent, from Islamabad, where he is due to attend the 16th meeting of Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) on June 23-24.
Prime Minister’s Advisor on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz and Foreign Secretary Aizaz Chaudhry accompanied the President.
The President paid tribute to Imam Bukhari, whose compilation of Hadith is regarded as the most authentic. He said Muslims around the world owed to Imam Bukhari for his contribution to the compilation of an important segment of the religious faith.
He visited various sections of the mausoleum’s complex including the library with a rare collection of books relating to Islamic Shariah and Hadith.
Mamnoon Hussain also visited the mausoleum of Amir Temur, the great conqueror of the 13th century with magnanimous victories recoded in the history. Amir Temur is officially recognised as the national hero of Uzbekistan for laying the basis of a state in Central Asia.
The President later visited the Raigistan Square, meaning the desert place, and evinced keen interest in the architecture of historic monument. He also praised the Uzbek Government in restoration and uplift of the ancient structure dating back to Temurid dynasty.
Earlier on his arrival at the historic city, the President was received by Haakim of Samarkand Barnoyev Uktam Isayevich and Chairman State Committee for Privatisation Davron Khidoyatov.
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