ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan Wednesday said Pakistan and Tajikistan are facing the common challenges of peaceful settlement in Afghanistan after the withdrawal of the US and the threat of climate change.
Speaking at a joint media briefing after witnessing the agreements and memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed by both the countries, Prime Minister Imran Khan along with the Tajik president stated that he discussed various things with the president and the foremost among them was to increase trade, and was confident that the MOU signed between the chambers of the two countries and connectivity of Tajikistan with Gwadar would deepen and increase the trade ties between the two countries.
In addition, he said that the MoU signed on education and culture would also strengthen cultural ties between the two sides, while agreement on defense is very important and MoU signed, and also discussed how to further increase cooperation in defense.
The prime minister said that both the countries are facing common challenges of a peaceful settlement in Afghanistan after the withdrawal of the US, and the threat of climate change.
He said that peace in Afghanistan is important for increase in trade between Pakistan and Tajikistan and both the countries had expressed concerned that absence of peaceful settlement after the departure of US from Afghanistan may lead to anarchy.
This is important for both the countries that there should be a political settlement, he said, adding that a peaceful settlement in Afghanistan is very import for increase in trade between Pakistan and Tajikistan.
The prime minister said that climate change is another challenge for both the countries, as global warming was leading to fast melting of glaciers.
The prime minister said that relation with India cannot be normalised as long as it revokes August 5 actions with regard to the Indian Occupied Held Kashmir (IIOK).
The Tajik president said he was totally satisfied with the outcome of the high-level talks and negotiations.
Economic expansion is also the shared goal of the two sides, he said, and added that we have also highlighted significant role of Joint Inter-Governmental Commission on trade, economic, scientific technical cooperation.
The president added that in this context, we stressed the importance of improvising investment and business and attracting direct investment in different sectors, increase in volume of trade, and Pakistan exhibition in Dushanbe.
He said the two sides have agreed to resume business council as well as the joint working groups on energy and infrastructure as soon as the situation improves after Covid-19.
The president said that his country's special interest in continuing fruitful cooperation of the two countries in implementation of energy projects and particularly CASA 1000.
The Tajik president also expressed his country's interest in joining regional transport corridor projects.
He said we have also discussed Tajikistan's access to Karachi and Gwadar seaports.
Additionally, he said that his country was interested in cooperation in industry and join transport corridor.
We propose joint venture in agriculture products processing including food products and cotton and strengthening cooperation in the health sector.
Pakistan and Tajikistan have signed agreements and understanding for enhancing cooperation in various areas, said Prime Minister’s Office on Wednesday.
Earlier, agreement and MoU signed between the two sides included; (i) academic cooperation agreement between Tajik Technical University named after academician MS Osimi and Indus University of Pakistan; (ii) agreement on cooperation between the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Tajikistan and Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Quetta, Balochistan; (iii) agreement between Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Republic of Tajikistan and the Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Pakistan; (iv) Memorandum of Understanding between Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Republic of Tajikistan; (v) MOU between Agency for State Financial Control and Struggle against Corruption of the Republic of Tajikistan and National Accountability Bureau of Pakistan; (vi) agreement between the Government of Tajikistan and the Government of Pakistan for Cooperation in the Field of Prevention and Liquidation of Emergency Situations; (vii) agreement in the field of Art and Culture, and MoU between Tajik Institute of Languages, Dushanbe Tajikistan and National University of Modern Languages (NUML), Pakistan; (viii) MoU between Technological University of Tajikistan and COMSATS University Islamabad and agreement on international road transport as well as cooperation programme between ministries of Foreign Affairs and Tajikistan; (ix) joint Declaration on Next Steps in Building Strategic Partnership for Regional Solidarity and Integration; (x) MoUs and the agreements signed with Tajikistan will also go a long way in strengthening relations in the areas of education, defense, culture and art.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2021
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