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ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan has congratulated incumbent President Shavkat Mirziyoyev of Uzbekistan on the ”impressive victory” in the presidential election.
“Heartiest congratulations to my friend President Shavkat Mirziyoyev (of Uzbekistan) on impressive victory in Presidential elections. People of brotherly Uzbekistan have again reposed their trust in his able leadership,” the prime minister said on Twitter.
The prime minister said he looked forward to continued productive engagement between Pakistan and Uzbekistan. Both leaders had last met in September on the sidelines SCO Summit in Dushanbe and exchanged views on bilateral relations, regional and international issues.
Heartiest congratulations to my friend President Shavkat Mirziyoyev @president_uz on impressive victory in Presidential elections. People of brotherly Uzbekistan have again reposed their trust in his able ldrshp. I look forward to continued productive engagement between 🇵🇰 & 🇺🇿.
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) October 25, 2021
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Second term
According to Uzbek media, Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev has been re-elected for a second five-year term. Around 16.21 million citizens took part in the voting, which is 80.4% of the total number of voters included in the lists.
Mirziyoyev swept to victory with 80.1 percent of the vote Uzbekistan’s Central Election Commission announced on Monday. Voter turnout was at 80.8 percent.
The 64-year-old spoke to campaign staff and reporters shortly after his widely expected win was declared. “I am grateful to and bow in front of our mothers, sisters, daughters, fellow party members for trusting and choosing me,” Mirziyoyev said
Mirziyoyev’s win will allow him to deepen his reform campaign and likely lead to Uzbekistan opening up further to foreign trade and investment – while retaining a highly centralised political system.
READ MORE: PM Imran discusses economic, trade ties with Uzbek President
Since taking office in 2016 following the death of longtime President Islam Karimov, Mirziyoyev has relaxed many of the policies of his predecessor. He has lifted some restrictions on religious practices reined in the country’s powerful security services and overseen the release of some political prisoners.
Mirziyoyev has also pledged to cut poverty through rapid economic growth and gradually decentralise decision-making by devolving some powers to district councils.
As the only visible candidate during the pre-election campaign, he toured the country to promise supporting local communities and bridging the gap between rich and poor. As well as embarking on domestic reforms, Mirziyoyev has rebuilt resource-rich Uzbekistan’s ties with both Russia and the West.
Russian President Vladimir Putin was the first to congratulate Mirziyoyev on his re-election, calling him even before Uzbek election officials announced the preliminary results. Russia is building Uzbekistan’s first nuclear power plant and has invested in other big economic projects in the country.
