Uzbek journalists explore Pakistan’s media, culture and history

**Uzbek journalists examine Pakistan’s media, culture and history**

An Uzbek media delegation, which includes a Daryo correspondent, is currently in Pakistan for a multi-day program centered on media cooperation, bilateral ties, cultural exchange and people-to-people contacts between Uzbekistan and Pakistan.

The group brings together representatives from Uzbek print, television and digital outlets, along with content creators and social media representatives. Throughout the visit, the participants are set to meet officials from Pakistani public and private institutions and tour media organizations as well as cultural and historical landmarks. In Islamabad, they have already visited the Pakistan Monument at Shakarparian and Faisal Mosque, gaining an introduction to the cultural and architectural attractions of the Pakistani capital.

The Uzbek journalists later went to Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, where they met Hassan Ali Zaigham, Director General for Central Asia, together with other officials and experts dealing with Central Asian affairs. During the meeting, Pakistani officials briefed the delegation on regional developments and Pakistan-Uzbekistan relations. The talks covered political contacts and the prospects for deeper economic and trade cooperation.

The Pakistani side emphasized the historical, religious and cultural ties between the two countries and discussed ways to expand bilateral partnerships across various sectors. The participants also exchanged views on Pakistan’s regional partnerships and wider developments in the region.

Zaigham underlined the importance of media organizations and journalists in informing the public about bilateral relations, cultural connections and cooperation opportunities. The meeting also discussed how media exchanges could help strengthen contacts between the two countries. After the Foreign Ministry visit, the Uzbek delegation toured Pakistan Television (PTV), the national broadcaster.

There, participants visited several departments and received briefings on PTV’s broadcasting operations and media production processes. The program also gave them a chance to observe the broadcaster’s organizational structure and production work. The delegation additionally visited the private television channels SAMAA News and Hum News, where they toured newsrooms and broadcasting facilities and reviewed different aspects of channel operations.

The media segment of the trip is designed to promote the exchange of professional experience, expertise and content between media representatives from Uzbekistan and Pakistan. Participants are also studying the development of television, digital platforms and social media in Pakistan.

The delegation’s schedule also includes visits to cultural, historical and tourist destinations in Islamabad and other parts of Pakistan. Along with the Pakistan Monument and Faisal Mosque, the itinerary features stops in Murree, Taxila and Lahore.

Taxila will give the delegation a chance to explore sites linked to the region’s ancient history, while the Lahore part of the program will concentrate on the city’s cultural, architectural and historical heritage. The delegation is expected to continue its tour with visits to Lahore and other places on the itinerary.

The visit is being carried out at the invitation of the Government of Pakistan and is meant to broaden contacts between Pakistani and Uzbek media organizations. It also aims to give Uzbek media representatives information about Pakistan’s political, diplomatic, media, cultural and tourism sectors. Participants are expected to share information and impressions from the trip with audiences in Uzbekistan through television, digital media and social platforms.

The Pakistani side was represented by a number of major companies, including PEL, Waves Singer, Sadaqat, Fauji, Platinum, Fast Cables, National Fruit, Amson Group, Shaigan, Hans International, Secure Logistics Group, NLC, Fairmont, Go Dairy, Engro, Herbion, AGP, Arco, Habib Rafiq, Pakistan Steel Mills, Siddiq Sons, Uniworth, Diners, Fatima Group, Fateh Group, Hub Leather, Siddiq Leather, Royal Leather and Ahsan Dyeing.

Addressing the forum, Mirziyoyev said the high-level negotiations had opened a new stage in relations between Uzbekistan and Pakistan, with particular emphasis on expanding trade, economic and investment cooperation.

The two countries also signed a protocol establishing a new framework for economic engagement and setting a target of increasing bilateral trade to $2bn. Relevant officials were instructed to prepare a comprehensive roadmap and introduce a mechanism for promptly addressing issues that may arise during its implementation.

Uzbekistan ranked as Pakistan’s second-largest trading partner among Central Asian countries in 2025, with bilateral trade totaling $445.9mn. Pakistan’s exports to Uzbekistan amounted to $120.9mn, led by food products at $56.2mn and chemicals at $45.3mn, followed by manufactured goods worth $6.4mn and finished products at $5.2mn. Meanwhile, Pakistan imported $325mn in goods and services from Uzbekistan, including $260.2mn in food products, $30.1mn in services, $21.2mn in manufactured goods and $13.2mn in non-food raw materials.