President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov arrives in Pakistan on Tuesday for a two-day official visit at the invitation of President Pervez Musharraf, says an official statement. He will be accompanied by Ministers for Foreign Affairs, Justice, Finance and Foreign Trade along with head of the Central Bank of Uzbekistan and other senior officials. He last visited Pakistan in August 1992. Karimov will hold formal talks with Musharraf and attend a banquet in his honour. The two leaders will witness signing of agreements to intensify cooperation in trade and investment, agriculture and consular matters. Karimov will also have a meeting with Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz who will host a luncheon in his honour. National Assembly Speaker Chaudhry Amir Hussain and Minister for Water and Power Liaquat Ali Jatoi will call on the Uzbek President. Pakistan and Uzbekistan enjoy close brotherly relations, based on strong commonalities of history, faith and culture and share perceptions on major international and regional issues, the statement said.
