President Asif Ali Zardari and his Tajik counterpart President Emomali Rahmonov on Wednesday reiterated their resolve to boost bilateral economic and trade ties through enhanced linkages and greater regional connectivity in order to fully benefit from the rich potential that existed between the two countries.
During a meeting with the president of Tajikistan soon after his arrival in the Turkmen capital, Zardari underscored the need for taking all necessary measures to strengthen the economic ties between two countries.
Reiterating his proposal of Trilateral Transit and Trade Agreement among Afghanistan, Pakistan and Tajikistan, Zardari said such an arrangement would help boost the bilateral economic relations.
He expressed satisfaction that Pakistan-Tajikistan trade had increased from $15 million in 2011 to over $72 million in 2012.
“A preferential trade agreement (PTA) and according the Most Favoured Nation (MFN) status on reciprocal basis will provide impetus to efforts aimed at enhancing our mutual economic interactions,” the president proposed.
He noted with satisfaction the success of Fifth Regional Economic Cooperation Conference on Afghanistan (RECCA-V) held in Dushanbe in March 2012, and urged for expeditious implementation of the projects mentioned in the Declaration of RECCA-V.
Zardari also underscored the need for a road link between Pakistan and Tajikistan through the Wakhan corridor, connecting Ishkashim and Chitral, saying the road link would help increase the trade volume and would benefit the local industries and the population.
He said air connectivity between the two countries was also important for promoting people-to-people contacts, economic relations and tourism. He said Tajik Air flights on Dushanbe-Islamabad-Dubai sectors would pave the way for increasing tourist traffic and promoting greater people-to-people contacts. The president said Pakistan also looked forward to Somon Air’s flights to Pakistan.
President Zardari termed the ongoing Tajikistan-Turkmenistan road and rail links and gas pipeline through Afghanistan as “welcome developments, not only for both the countries, but also for the entire region”.
He proposed that the gas pipeline project between Tajikistan and Turkmenistan after finalisation might be associated with TAPI gas pipeline project.
The president said Pakistan was committed to the early implementation of CASA-1000 project in order to meet the growing energy requirements of the country.
He said Pakistan could export sugar and wheat to Tajikistan. He also welcomed a proposal for establishment of a cement factory in Tajikistan and offered Pakistan’s assistance in this regard.
The two leaders were of the view that the Nauroz festival had provided them a good opportunity to meet again and to discuss their bilateral ties.
President Zardari recalled his visits to Dushanbe in September 2011 and March 2012 and his recent meetings on the sidelines of SCO Summit at Beijing in June and NAM Summit at Tehran in August 2012.
The president said Pakistan attached great importance to its fraternal relations with Tajikistan and wanted to translate the existing equation into economic terms.
Discussing regional situation, he said in the post 2014 evolving geo-strategic scenario, Pak-Tajik closer cooperation in all fields had assumed greater significance. He said peace and stability in Afghanistan was essential for regional peace and stability, adding that both countries could play an effective role for ensuring a peaceful transition.
Zardari reiterated that Pakistan supported an Afghan-led and Afghan-owned peace process.
