Editor's Note.

President of Uzbekistan Shavket Mirziyoyev was in Islamabad on a state level visit on the invitation of Prime Minister Imran Khan. Given the long term partnership, this visit is focused on deciding the Next Steps in the Strategic Partnership. The executive leadership of Pakistan and Uzbekistan held consultations on a range of prospects including media cooperation, tourism, sports, religion, environment and climate change. Apart from sighing of MoUs and meeting with PM Khan, Uzbek President Shavkat met President of Pakistan Mr. Arif Alfi at President House and discussed the issues of bilateral interests including regional and international matters. Both heads of state expressed their satisfaction over the degree of prevalent cooperation and asserts to further deepen the mutual trust. He appreciated the Vision Central Asia of Pakistan which seeks close integration and regional connectivity with Central Asian resource rich markets and offer land routes to the Arabian Sea for global trade.

It is worth mentioning here that the joint statement of state level bilateral exchange is termed as Next Step in Partnership where Pakistan and Uzbekistan will shape their bilateral relations into a strategic partnership focusing on all encompassing areas of cooperation including security, economy, science, technology, defense, trade, energy and regional connectivity. It will usher a new era of socio-economic development in the region in line with the National Security Policy document which emphasized the centrality of geo-economics. It is the good notion that Pakistan is finding likeminded partners in the immediate neighborhood for mutual benefits instead of relying on European partners for transactional relationships marred by geopolitics.

The pivot to Central Asia and East Asia would help Pakistan to diversify its foreign policy and explore new export markets for its goods breaking dependence barriers on narrow markets. In March 48th Session of the OIC (Organization of Islamic Cooperation) Council of Foreign Ministers was held in Islamabad, Pakistan. The 48th Summit of the OIC CFM was led by the theme "partnering for unity, justice, and development," and it addressed 140 resolutions on significant contemporary challenges affecting the Muslim world.

Pakistan in the summit meant to promote harmony and a shared sense of purpose to strengthen the unity among which would help in promoting the integrity of the justice system for the Muslims suffering...