The Institute of Regional Studies in Islamabad, together with the Embassy of Uzbekistan, hosted a prominent book launch for New Uzbekistan: The Path of Shavkat Mirziyoyev, bringing diplomats, policymakers, scholars and civil society voices to discuss Uzbekistan’s transformation and deepening Pak Uzbek ties.
Ambassador Jauhar Saleem, president of the Institute of Regional Studies, described the book as an intellectually rich reflection on leadership and service to citizens, noting that it captures Uzbekistan’s emergence as a regional hub and offers more than a political narrative by examining governance choices that underpin reform.
Ambassador Alisher Tukhtaev, Uzbekistan’s envoy to Pakistan, said the country has entered a new era of growth driven by comprehensive reforms across governance, economy, science and development. He pointed to concrete economic gains, including an increase in GDP from USD 115 billion to USD 140 billion and foreign exchange reserves rising from USD 48 billion to USD 59 billion, as evidence of sustained progress under President Shavkat Mirziyoyev.
On bilateral relations, Ambassador Tukhtaev highlighted practical steps that strengthen people-to-people links and commerce, citing e-visa facilitation for Pakistani nationals, expanded direct flights between Tashkent and Islamabad and Lahore with Karachi to be added next year, and rising trade volumes projected to climb from USD 404 million in 2024 to around USD 450 million this year.
Hassan Irmatov, a member of the Senate Committee of Uzbekistan, called the book a leadership-oriented analysis that offers insights into state transformation and noted that prior launches in the United States and at the United Nations reflect the publication’s growing international reach and the warming Pak Uzbek relationship.
Eldor Tulyakov, executive director of the Development Strategy Center, outlined how eight years of public administration reforms have redefined the social contract by placing human dignity at the centre of policymaking. He emphasised transparency, participatory budgeting, institutional accountability and service-oriented governance as central pillars of Uzbekistan’s reform agenda.
Former information minister and presidential spokesperson Murtaza Solangi underlined cultural and historical affinities between Pakistan and Uzbekistan and urged capitalising on untapped opportunities in education, agriculture, technology, culture and trade. He framed Uzbekistan’s reform momentum as a modern revival rooted in openness, innovation and a youthful population, and argued that enhanced regional connectivity with Central Asia is both timely and necessary for shared prosperity.
The gathering drew senior diplomats, government officials, academics, journalists and students, and served as a platform to reflect on Uzbekistan reforms while charting a path for deeper Pak Uzbek cooperation across connectivity, commerce and people-to-people exchange.
