The president, Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), Mian Anjum Nisar, called upon the Tajik government to help establish joint ventures to revive 300 industrial units lying closed in Tajikistan.
He lauded the decision taken at the Joint Economic Commission (JEC) meeting of Pakistan and Tajikistan in Islamabad, removing visa restrictions for the Pakistani businessmen, which would go a long way in encouraging people-to-people contacts.
He, however, urged the Tajik government to slash down the visa fee.
The LCCI chief called for a series of initiatives at the government and the private sector levels to yield tangible results of raising meagre existing trade worth $5 million.
He said the road and air linkages between two states need to be improved, adding Pak and Tajik governments should prevail upon the Interim Afghan administration to give access of the Wakhan corridor to both countries. Such an arrangement would give Tajik businessmen easy transit to Pakistan, he added.
Accepting the proposal of the LCCI chief, the leader of Tajik delegation and Deputy Minister for Trade Mahudov Isroil Ismailovich said the Tajik president would visit Pakistan on May 14.
During his visit here, he would sign a number of agreements, including avoidance of double taxation and travel arrangements.
Mahudov Israoil Ismailovich told the house that Tajikistan is eight biggest power generating state in the world, and able to provide cheap energy to Pakistan.
He also informed the house that the efforts are being made to raise transport net through Afghanistan that would ultimately enhance bilateral trade between the two countries. Other members of the delegation were concerned over the transport, agriculture, finance and industry.
Senior LCCI Vice-President Mian Misbah-ur-Rehman and Vice-President Shahzad Ali Malik and other Executive Committee members also attended the meeting.