National Bank of Pakistan to Open Uzbekistan Branch

Pakistan’s state-owned National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) will launch a branch in Uzbekistan as part of a wider effort to strengthen economic cooperation between the two nations. The decision was announced during a meeting between Haroon Akhtar Khan, the special assistant to the prime minister on industries and production, and Uzbekistan’s ambassador to Pakistan, Alisher Takhtaev.

During the talks, the State Bank of Pakistan confirmed that banking and financial integration issues would be addressed swiftly. Both sides agreed to aim for bilateral trade of $2 bn, giving particular attention to textiles, pharmaceuticals, surgical instruments, mining, and information technology. The pharmaceutical industry stood out as a priority, with Pakistan pledging to speed up certification for its medicines entering the Uzbek market.

Cooperation in pharmaceuticals

To support this, the two countries are forming a Pakistan–Uzbekistan Joint Pharmaceutical Committee. It will include officials from Pakistan’s Drug Regulatory Authority, the Pakistan Pharmaceutical Association, and Uzbek representatives. The committee is expected to simplify regulation and expand Pakistan’s pharmaceutical exports to Uzbekistan.

The Uzbek ambassador also proposed launching direct flights between Karachi and Tashkent to stimulate trade and tourism. He reaffirmed Uzbekistan’s commitment to regional integration and the shared ambition of linking Central and South Asian markets.

Uzbek delegates praised Pakistan’s pharmaceutical capacity and suggested that Uzbekistan’s Pharma Park model could be adapted for use in Pakistan. Pakistani industry stakeholders, however, highlighted delays in product certification on the Uzbek side. In response, Akhtar said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had ordered officials to speed up the process and introduce direct flights as soon as possible, adding that Pakistan’s airlines would be encouraged to join the effort.

Both parties stressed that better cooperation in banking is essential as outstanding barriers continue to limit trade. Akhtar noted that the prime minister had instructed provincial governments to be included in all joint initiatives to ensure stronger coordination.

Talks also addressed overland connectivity, with emphasis on the promise of the Trans-Afghan Railway Project. Cooperation in mining was reviewed as well, with