Pakistan and Uzbekistan Deepen Energy Cooperation: Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik Meets Ambassador Alisher Tukhtaev
Islamabad — In a significant step towards enhancing bilateral energy cooperation, Federal Minister for Petroleum, Ali Pervaiz Malik, reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to expanding its energy partnership with Uzbekistan during a high-level meeting with His Excellency Mr. Alisher Tukhtaev, Ambassador of Uzbekistan to Pakistan.
The meeting, held in Islamabad, focused on deepening strategic collaboration in the oil and gas sector, a critical area of mutual interest. Minister Malik highlighted Pakistan’s intent to transform its strong diplomatic and political relations with Uzbekistan into tangible, long-term energy ventures.
Ambassador Tukhtaev warmly welcomed the progress in bilateral ties, praising Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s recent visit to Tashkent as a milestone in fostering economic diplomacy and regional connectivity. “The Prime Minister’s successful engagement has paved the way for broader cooperation, especially in energy,” he stated. He reaffirmed Uzbekistan’s commitment to increasing bilateral trade to $2 billion in the coming years, with energy being a central pillar of that ambition.
The Ambassador identified several promising avenues for collaboration, including:
- Joint oil and gas exploration ventures
- Technical training programs for Pakistani professionals in Uzbekistan
- Collaborative research in synthetic fuel and polymer technologies
Minister Malik responded positively, proposing the creation of a Pakistan-Uzbekistan Energy Working Group to streamline coordination, fast-track initiatives, and enhance sector-specific engagement. “We see immense value in institutionalizing our energy dialogue,” the Minister noted, adding that Pakistan welcomes Uzbek investment in its upstream exploration activities and infrastructure development.
He assured full government support to Uzbek firms seeking opportunities in Pakistan’s oil and gas sector and emphasized Pakistan’s keenness to learn from Uzbekistan’s technical expertise, especially in refining technologies and alternative energy development.
“Pakistan is keen to transform the strong political understanding between our nations into tangible partnerships,” Minister Malik stated, commending Ambassador Tukhtaev’s proactive diplomacy and strategic vision. He encouraged Pakistani companies to also explore Uzbekistan’s growing energy market, calling it “rich with untapped potential.”
The meeting concluded with a shared resolve to accelerate energy cooperation and turn intent into action through practical, mutually beneficial initiatives. Both sides expressed optimism that strengthened energy ties would contribute not only to economic prosperity but also to regional stability and integration.
BY: The Times Union
