The Center for Economic Research and Reforms (CERR) conducted an analysis of trade and economic cooperation between Uzbekistan and Pakistan over the past 9 years.
In recent years, Uzbekistan has significantly intensified cooperation not only with its traditional trade and economic partners, but also with countries that play a key role in the implementation of Uzbekistan’s large infrastructure projects aimed at accessing new export markets.
Among such countries, Pakistan holds a special place — the second most populous country in South Asia with substantial economic development potential, with whose participation Uzbekistan plans to implement the ambitious Trans-Afghan Railway Corridor project.
In March 2022, an official visit of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan to Pakistan took place, during which intentions were confirmed to further develop strategic partnership as well as expand cooperation in trade, economic and humanitarian spheres.
In February 2025, the Prime Minister of Pakistan Shehbaz Sharif paid an official visit to Uzbekistan, during which mechanisms for expanding bilateral cooperation in trade, industry and transport were discussed, and an agreement was reached to establish a Supreme Council of Strategic Partnership between the two countries.
In mutual trade between Uzbekistan and Pakistan, the Most-Favoured-Nation regime is in force, and a Preferential Trade Agreement and a Transit Trade Agreement have also been signed.
Over the period 2017–2025, the volume of mutual trade between the two countries increased by 12.2 times and reached $445.9 mln by the end of 2025. Exports to Pakistan grew 32 times to $325 mln, while imports from Pakistan increased 4.6 times to $120.9 mln.
As a result of the growth in Uzbekistan’s exports, the foreign trade balance with Pakistan has been positive since 2019.
Uzbekistan’s exports to Pakistan in 2025 consisted of the following commodity groups: food products (dried legumes, peanuts) — $260.2 mln (80%), industrial goods (yarn) — $21.2 mln (6.5%), non-food raw materials — $13.2 mln (4.1%), as well as services (mainly transport) — $30.1 mln (9.3%).
Imports from Pakistan in 2025 were mainly represented by: food products (meat, potatoes, citrus fruits) — $56.2 mln (46.5%), chemical products (medicines, detergents) — $45.3 mln (37.5%), industrial goods — $6.4 mln (5.3%), and services — $4 mln (3.3%).
As of January 1, 2026, there are 208 enterprises operating in Uzbekistan with Pakistani capital, including 18 joint ventures and 190 enterprises with 100% Pakistani capital.
The total volume of direct investments and loans from Pakistan to Uzbekistan’s economy in 2017–2024 amounted to $62.5 mln, of which $47.4 mln were attracted in 2024.
Investment cooperation between Uzbekistan and Pakistan is developing in manufacturing industries — in particular food, textile, leather and pharmaceutical sectors — as well as in transport and logistics, including infrastructure projects, ICT and engineering services.
One of the main obstacles to increasing trade between Uzbekistan and Pakistan, as well as other South Asian countries, is the absence of direct railway connectivity.
In this regard, Uzbekistan is interested in implementing, with Pakistan’s participation, the railway construction project “Mazar-i-Sharif – Kabul – Peshawar,” which will create a short and cost-efficient transport corridor between the countries.
Implementation of this project will not only create favorable conditions for expanding mutual trade between Uzbekistan and Pakistan, but will also increase the transit potential of both countries, connect Central and South Asia through a shorter transport route, and open access for Central Asian countries to the Pakistani ports of Gwadar and Karachi.
CERR Public Relations Sector
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