DUSHANBE:
Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif arrived in the Tajik capital on a two-day (June 9-10) visit to participate in the International Conference on the Implementation of the International Decade for Action, “Water for Life,” 2005-2025.
He is accompanied by Minister for Water and Power Khawaja Muhammad Asif and Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Tariq Fatemi.
The Prime Minister is visiting Tajikistan at the invitation of his Tajik counterpart Qohir Rasulzoda. The conference will also be addressed by United Nations General Secretary Ban Ki Moon, leaders and representatives of relevant international and regional bodies.
Talking to APP, Pakistan’s Ambassador to Tajikistan Tariq Iqbal Soomro said after addressing the conference, the Prime Minister would hold a one-on-one meeting with Tajik President Emomali Rahmon, followed by delegation-level talks.
He said both the leaders would discuss the whole range of bilateral relations and exchange views on regional and international issues of mutual concern.
The envoy said that the two leaders would reiterate the need to further strengthen bilateral cooperation between Tajikistan and Pakistan in diverse fields, including fast tracking work on CASA – 1000 and boosting bilateral trade between the two countries.
The conference is being hosted by Tajikistan in pursuance of the UN General Assembly resolution No. A/RES/69/2015, which was co- sponsored by Pakistan.
The conference will review status of implementation of the objectives of the decade, which include implementation of water-related internationally agreed goals. It will adopt a declaration suggesting, inter alia, measures to further enhance cooperation at all levels, for expeditious implementation of such goals to achieve socio-economic sustainable development.
In December 2013, the UN General Assembly had proclaimed 2005-2015 as the `International Decade for Action, Water for Life’, interalia, to raise awareness about and to promote global synergies to address water-related global challenges.
