Uzbek Ambassador Furqat Sidiqov called on Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif here on Wednesday.
Matters of mutual interest and the advancement of collaboration between the two countries in various sectors were discussed in the meeting. Furqat Sidiqov condemned the attack on the census team in Lahore and grieved over the loss of lives. He said that both countries cherish good relations, adding that the Uzbek government was seeking to extend cooperation in different fields with Pakistan, and specifically Punjab.
Commending the progressive policies of the Punjab government, the Uzbek ambassador said that Punjab had made much progress in public welfare and completed various crucial projects in the province. He also invited the chief minister to Uzbekistan.
Speaking on the occasion, Shehbaz Sharif said that radicalism and terrorism were global issues and joint efforts at the international level were needed to combat the menaces. He vowed to promote trade and industrial relations with Uzbekistan and to take advantage from Uzbek expertise in the cotton industry.
Uzbekistan is a good market for the export of fruits and we will take the necessary steps to export fruit to our Uzbek brothers, he added. The chief minister said that a delegation of the Punjab government would visit Uzbekistan soon and that immediate steps to enhance cooperation in agriculture and other fields will be taken. He also expressed his wish to visit the country himself.
Provincial Minister Planning and Development (P&D) Malik Nadeem Kamran, the P&D board chairman and Punjab investment board CEO were also present during the meeting.
