Ambassador of Tajikistan Jononov Sherali on Monday said that his country was keen to further develop bilateral ties with Pakistan as both the sides have a huge potential in various sectors of the economy. The ambassador was speaking at the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry. LCCI President Sohail Lashari presented the address of welcome while Senior Vice President Mian Tariq Misbah, Vice President Kashif Anwar, Executive Committee members Mian Zahid Javaid, Raja Hamid Riaz, Zafar Mehmood, Chaudhry Muhammad Aslam, Muhammad Afzal, former Executive Committee Members Jamil A Naz and Rehmatullah Javaid also spoke. As much as 60 percent of the cement consumed in Tajikistan is being imported from Pakistan while a number of other companies belonging to pharmaceutical sector, agriculture and livestock are doing good business, the Ambassador added. Jononov Sherali said that the signing of resolution by inter-governmental council of central Asia South Asia (CASA) for provision of 1300MW electricity during summer season would further strengthen relation between Pakistan and Tajikistan. He said that the work on the project would start in January 2014 and complete in 2 to 3 years time. Talking about as to how the bilateral trade between the two countries could excel through exchange of trade delegations and holding of single country exhibitions. He said that China and Iran are used to hold single country exhibitions in Tajikistan therefore; the Lahore Chamber of Commerce should take lead in this regard. He said that he was ready to arrange B-2-B meetings of Pakistani businessmen in Tajikistan provided the LCCI arrange a delegation. He said that the embassy of Tajikistan in Islamabad would continue to facilitate Pakistani businessmen in getting visa on priority basis. Lashari said that Pakistan and Tajikistan have good diplomatic relations. Both the countries enjoy rich historical bonds of brotherhood. He said that the relationship as members of the OIC and ECO and the proximity to each other has, however, not been translated into tangible economic ties. He said that working relations between Tajik Embassy and LCCI will certainly contribute in improving the situation. He said that world is going through a fast paced integration process. ECO countries are well placed in terms of their economic potential and can become a major hub of trade and energy. The LCCI President was of the view that the regional grouping of ECO needs to be activated on the lines of EU and ASEAN. He hoped that Tajikistan being an important country among CIS will try to play a leading role in developing closer linkages among the member states. Unfortunately, he said, Pakistan does not figure prominently among the trading partners of Tajikistan. The major reasons for such a low level of two-way trade are lack of transportation facilities, absence of developed banking system in Tajikistan and to some extent security issues etc.
