CASA 1000 to help Pakistan benefit from Tajikistan's cheap energy: PM Imran
PM Imran invites Tajik investors to invest in Pakistan
DUSHANBE (Dunya News) – Prime Minister Imran Khan on Thursday said CASA 1000 project will be expedited so that we can benefit from Tajikistan’s clean and cheap energy.
Addressing Pakistan Tajikistan Business Forum in Dushanbe, he noted that increased trade will benefit both the countries. He said our current trade of eighty million dollars is minuscule and there is a lot of potential to bolster it. He said Pakistan is a big market of two hundred and thirty million people.
The PM said the objective of this Business Forum is to have interaction between the business communities of Pakistan and Tajikistan. He said some sixty seven companies from Pakistan are attending this event.
Imran Khan said CASA 1000 project will be expedited so that we can benefit from Tajikistan s clean and cheap energy.
The premier stressed that peace in Afghanistan is important for better connectivity and trade between Pakistan and Tajikistan. He said both Pakistan and Tajikistan will be trying everything for peace and inclusive government in Afghanistan.
Earlier, in the day, PM Imran and President of Kazakhstan Kassyum-Jomart Tokayev held a meeting on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Council of Heads of State (SCO-CHS) Summit and discussed bilateral relations and regional issues.
It is to be mentioned here that PM Imran is in Tajikistan on a two-day visit to attend the SCO Summit.
Prime Minister Imran Khan will lead the country at 20th Shanghai Cooperation Organization Council of Heads of State (SCO-CHS) Summit in Tajikistan’s capital Dushanbe, during his two-day official visit on September 16-17.
The visit of PM Imran Khan is taking place on the invitation of Tajik President Emomali Rahmon. A high-level ministerial delegation is accompanying the prime minister.
This is the third visit of the prime minister to Central Asia, underlining Pakistan’s enhanced engagement with the region.
He has earlier participated in SCO-CHS held in Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic on 13-14 June 2019 and SCO-CHS hosted by Russia on 10 November 2020 through video-conference.
The SCO, an eight-member permanent inter-governmental trans-regional Organization, was established in Shanghai on 15 June 2001. Pakistan became an SCO Observer in 2005 and a full member in June 2017 during Astana SCO-CHS Summit. Russia, China, India, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic and Tajikistan are other SCO members.
The SCO also has four Observer states (Iran, Mongolia, Belarus and Afghanistan) and six Dialogue Partners (Azerbaijan, Armenia, Cambodia, Nepal, Turkey and Sri Lanka).
The two countries have earlier expressed strong commitment to enter into a formal strategic partnership.
Pakistan and Tajikistan enjoy close brotherly relations underpinned by the bonds of common faith, history and culture. The two countries have shared perceptions and a common desire to promote economic development, peace, security and stability in the region.
PM’s visit is part of Pakistan’s deepened engagement with Central Asia through ‘Vision Central Asia’ policy, having revitalized focus in five key areas of political ties, trade and investment, energy and connectivity, security and defence, and people-to-people contacts.
