Pakistan and CA states agree on cooperation in defence sector

Delegations from Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic and Uzbekistan visit various ministries

The delegations from Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic and Uzbekistan attended meetings at various ministries of Pakistan on Tuesday.

The first meeting was arranged at the Defence Export Promotion Organisation (DEPO), where the delegations were briefed by Federal Ministry of Defence Production. During the briefing the visiting dignitaries were apprised about the defence-related capabilities/productions which covered various defence-related equipment, war machinery, arsenal and munitions. The delegations expressed keen interest and applauded the progress made by Pakistan in the above areas.

The participants agreed that cooperation in the field of security and defense was necessary to combat challenges and threats in the region as well as the fight against terrorism and extremism.

The delegations also visited National Agricultural Research Center (NARC) where they were briefed about the agricultural development, food security, poultry, livestock, and crop production. Furthermore, various areas of mutual cooperation and interest were also discussed to promote bilateral trade and cooperation. It was decided that cooperation in the fields of agriculture, food processing, crop production as other potential areas could be developed.

Later, the delegations visited Pakistan Tourism Development Authority. Cabinet Division Special Secretary Ms Shaista Sohail briefed the delegates about the prospects of religious tourism, tourism exchange programmes and deliberated upon the areas of mutual cooperation between Pakistan and the Central Asian countries.

The visiting delegates also expressed interest in investment opportunities in the tourism sector of Pakistan, hoping that many initiatives could be taken to boost tourism and people-to-people contacts.

This meeting was proceeded by the briefing of Federal Ministry of Information Broadcasting, National History and Literary Heritage at the Cabinet Division. The agenda of the meeting was to discuss common media forum and deliberate on future cooperation between Pakistan and Central Asian republics.