During his visit to the All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APTMA), Uzbekistan’s Ambassador invited representatives of the country’s textile companies to study the demand for high-quality products in Uzbekistan. He noted that Uzbekistan’s cheap energy and rich cotton reserves create attractive opportunities for Pakistani investors to develop trade and investment in the Uzbekistan market.

The Ambassador recalled that the two countries have signed several memoranda of understanding and agreements aimed at facilitating market access. Thanks to direct flights, the flight time was reduced by 90 minutes. Negotiations on a trilateral transit trade agreement involving Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Uzbekistan have entered a crucial phase. After reaching an agreement, trade flows will accelerate even more. Uzbekistan’s shopping malls have been opened in Karachi and Lahore. The next such center will be opened in Islamabad.
As A. Tukhtayev noted, Pakistan and Uzbekistan are “fraternal countries, not competitors”, so it is necessary to share resources, knowledge, and experience for mutual benefit. He invited the APTMA delegation to visit Uzbekistan, take part in exhibitions and conferences, and added that other trade delegations will visit this fraternal country in the coming months.
APTMA Chairman Kamran Arshad highlighted several existing problems in mutual trade, including the lack of official banking channels, delays in signing the free trade agreement, language barriers in labeling, issues with the Afghan transit route, and the slow construction pace of the Trans-Afghan Railway. He emphasized the importance of strengthening banking relations, concluding a free trade agreement as soon as possible, and establishing a regular exchange of trade delegations to realize the existing potential fully.
Another participant of the meeting, Asad Shafi, informed the delegation about the possibilities of Pakistan’s textile industry, noting that, despite centuries-old ties, the current volume of bilateral trade is only $125 million. He emphasized that his country aims to boost textile exports to $50 billion under the Sewing Revolution project and urged Uzbekistan to cooperate actively in this endeavor.
Muharrama Pirmatova, UzA
Qatar-based “Al Jazeera” television channel has published an article on its website about Samarkand, presenting the city as one of the jewels of the Silk Road and an important center of Islamic scholarship, culture and architecture, reports Dunyo IA.
Author travelled to Samarkand from Tashkent by high-speed train as part of a group of journalists, academics, and bloggers who arrived in Uzbekistan to attend an international media forum dedicated to Islamic civilization.
One of the main destinations of the trip was the Imam al-Bukhari Complex, which was recently reconstructed and reopened to visitors. The complex includes a mosque accommodating 10,000 worshippers, a museum dedicated to the life and scholarly journeys of the renowned hadith scholar, his mausoleum and the Institute of Hadith Sciences.
Particular attention is given to the museum, which displays ancient manuscripts of “Sahih al-Bukhari”, early copies of the Quran, a map of the scholar’s scholarly journeys, as well as materials about his teachers and students. According to information presented at the museum, Imam al-Bukhari collected around 600,000 hadiths during his years of travel, of which approximately 7,200 were included in his renowned work.
Article also highlights the School of Hadith Sciences, which was opened in 2018. Students study the legacy of Imam al-Bukhari and other hadith scholars for five years, as well as the six renowned collections of hadith.
A central place in the publication is given to Registan Square and its three madrasahs - Ulugh Beg, Sher-Dor and Tilya-Kori. “Al Jazeera” emphasizes their architectural significance and their connection to the history of Samarkand’s scientific and cultural development. The complex is included on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Author also visited the Gur-e-Amir Mausoleum, where Amir Timur, his children, and grandchildren are buried; the Mirza Ulugh Beg Observatory; and the Shah-i-Zinda Complex, with its mausoleums of members of the Timurid dynasty.
In the concluding part of the article, Samarkand is described as a city where ancient civilizations and cultures, connected by trade routes between East and West, have intertwined. According to the author, the city’s historical heritage continues to blend with its modern development, preserving the ties between generations and cultural traditions.