Pakistan, Tajikistan discuss land and air connectivity, cooperation in education, agriculture, defence

ISLAMABAD: Tajikistan’s envoy to Pakistan, Sharifzoda Yusuf Toirali, expressed his country’s desire for enhanced bilateral cooperation with Pakistan in various areas during a meeting with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif at the PM House on Friday.

The meeting comes against the backdrop of Pakistan’s active economic diplomacy with Central Asian states to strengthen connectivity and ensure a smooth flow of trade for greater regional prosperity.

Earlier this month, Sharif visited Tajikistan on a two-day trip where he met President Emomali Rahmon and highlighted the “unlimited potential” for foreign investment in Pakistan.

He also offered the Tajik administration the use of Pakistani ports, Gwadar and Karachi, to enhance trade via global sealanes with the rest of the world.

“The Tajik Ambassador briefed the prime minister on a number of proposals aimed at enhancing bilateral cooperation in various fields including education, agriculture and defence as well as connectivity through land and air routes,” the state-owned Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) reported after the meeting.

The prime minister, who welcomed Toirali and wished him a successful tenure to the country, tasked relevant ministries to get in touch with the Tajik envoy for further discussions.

The two sides also focused on regional connectivity projects, including CASA-1000, during the meeting.

The initiative is a regional energy project aimed at transmitting surplus hydroelectric power from Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan to Afghanistan and Pakistan.

It involves the construction of high-voltage transmission lines to deliver up to 1,300 megawatts of electricity, enhancing energy security and fostering economic cooperation between Central and South Asia.

Pakistan and Tajikistan have also tried to increase people-to-people contacts in recent months, with a Tajik airline inaugurating direct flight operations between Dushanbe and Islamabad.