TASHKENT: Prime Minister Imran Khan has announced that Pakistan and Uzbekistan will make a film on the first Mughal emperor, Zaheer ud din Babar, so that the young population knows of the connection between each other.
“It is extremely exciting that we have decided now to make a film on the first of the great Mughals, Zahreeruddin Babar,” said the Prime Minister while addressing a joint press conference with Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev.
The prime minister said that Babar’s dynasty ruled India for 300 years, when India was considered as one of the richest places in the world. “I think the young people in Uzbekistan and Pakistan must know this connection that stayed for hundreds of years between this part of the world and our part of the world,” he added.
The premier further said he felt that the film would and other similar films on Mirza Ghalib, Allama Iqbal and Imam Bukhari would connect the people of the two regions together.
“We hope that this will be the beginning of a strong cultural exchange between the two countries. As our countries get closer I will introduce cricket to the people of Uzbekistan,” the prime minister also announced.
President Mirziyoyev agreed with PM Imran Khan about the importance of the youth knowing about the heritage left behind by Babar’s dynasty. He also informed the Uzbek audience that not many youngsters of the country know that in Lahore, Pakistan, there are a great number of mosques, mausoleums, and schools that were built by his country’s predecessors.
“We should say that this is just the beginning. I look forward to visiting Pakistan in order to see those very places that have the touch of our ancestors and to see the life in Pakistan and people of Pakistan,” said the Uzbek president.
Joint declaration and MoUs signed
PM Imran Khan and President Mirziyoyev earlier held delegation level talks at the Koksaray Presidential Palace in Tashkent. Both the sides signed a 40-point “Joint Declaration on the Establishment of Strategic Partnership between Uzbekistan and Pakistan”
In the joint declaration both the leaders agreed to increase cooperation and reaffirmed their commitment to support each other at international forums, including the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation.
The MoUs and agreements signed included the exchange of Pre-Arrival Information on Goods; Transit Trade; Cooperation in the Field of Military Education; and Simplification of Visa Procedures for Businessmen and Tourist Groups.
The MoUs were also signed between Foreign Service Academy of Pakistan and University of World Economy and Diplomacy of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan; Cultural Exchange Programme 2021-2026; and on matters relating to Tourism.
