DUSHANBE, July 29, 2009, Asia-Plus — Pakistan is interested in participating in implementation of investment projects in Tajikistan, first of all, in such priority sectors as construction of highways and railroads as well as hydropower facilities, visiting Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari told reporters in Dushanbe today following his meeting with President Emomali Rahmon.
According to him, they agreed to launch direct air route between the two countries. Besides, the presidents also reached an agreement on opening of the branch of Pakistan’s central bank in the Tajik capital in near the near future.
Positively assessing the present level of Pakistani-Tajik relations, President Zardari noted that working together the two countries could address any modern threats and challenges.
For his part, President Emomali Rahmon noted that the meeting had been held in friendly atmosphere. “We agreed to strengthen bilateral cooperation, in particular, in the fields of trade and economy,” said Tajik leader, “For this, it is necessary to intensify work of our joint intergovernmental commission for economic cooperation and work out the program for expansion of cooperation in sectors like trade and economy, science and culture.”
According to him, the Pakistani side expressed readiness to create necessary conditions for Tajikistan to arrange cargo shipments through Pakistani seaports of Karachi and Gwadar.
We will recall that the third session of Tajik-Pakistani joint economic commission was held in Islamabad on July 21. The commission brainstormed on the issues relating to trade, economic cooperation, scientific and technical cooperation and other fields. Both sides agreed to sign the Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) 2009. According to Pakistani media, Tajikistan offered warehouse facility to Pakistan at Nizhny Panj and requested for a reciprocal facility for Tajik business community at Gwadar Port. Both sides agreed for a speedy implementation of the Electricity transmission line between Tajikistan – Afghanistan – Pakistan- Central Asian Sharing Aid (CASA 1000).
President Rahmon noted that they had also discussed issues related to fighting terrorism and strengthening peace and stability in the region.
