Pakistan, Uzbekistan to Deepen Climate Ties, Launch Green Corridor

News Desk

Islamabad: Federal Minister for Climate Change and Environmental Coordination, Dr. Musadik Malik, met with Uzbekistan’s Ambassador to Pakistan, Alisher Tukhtaev, on Friday to explore enhanced cooperation on climate change and environmental sustainability.

During the meeting, Ambassador Tukhtaev emphasized the strategic partnership between the two countries and proposed forward-looking initiatives, including the establishment of a bilateral working group, joint climate ventures, and the exchange of research, data and technology.

He praised Pakistan’s proactive participation in global climate forums and said both countries have the potential to become regional leaders in climate action.

Minister Malik welcomed the proposals, noting the deep civilizational ties between Pakistan and Uzbekistan. He lauded Uzbekistan’s green energy efforts, particularly its afforestation campaign aiming to plant 1 billion trees.

Highlighting regional environmental threats such as the drying of the Aral Sea and rapid glacier melt in Pakistan, Dr. Malik reiterated the urgency of joint climate action. He shared Pakistan’s vision of establishing a “Green University” to promote climate research, student and faculty exchanges, and regional academic collaboration.

As a flagship initiative, Dr. Malik proposed the creation of a Green Corridor linking Uzbekistan’s Green Valley and Pakistan’s Indus Valley. This corridor would host collaborative projects, including the expansion of Pakistan’s Green Program and Uzbekistan’s afforestation initiatives, with long-term plans to extend the corridor across Central and South Asia.

The Minister also underscored the importance of civil society engagement and public awareness in operationalizing the initiative.

Both sides agreed to move from planning to implementation, with the next round of technical discussions scheduled for the sidelines of an upcoming multilateral climate conference.