Pak-Tajik ties strengthening with each passing day: PM
Pakistan
Pak-Tajik ties strengthening with each passing day, says PM
ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Wednesday that the ties between Pakistan and Tajikistan are strengthening with each passing day.
Tajik President was warmly welcomed upon his arrival at Prime Minister House and formal welcome ceremony was also held in his honour. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif welcomed the visiting dignitary.
A contingent of armed forces presented a salute to the visiting dignitary. President Rahmon reviewed the guard of honour, presented by a contingent of the three services.
The Tajik President Emomali Rahmon introduced his delegation with the prime minister while Shehbaz Sharif also introduced his cabinet members with the Tajik President.
Later, addressing the ceremony, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said that the visit of the president of Tajikistan to Pakistan is a matter of pride for us, adding that Dushanbe is an important country in Central Asia, and Pakistan and Tajikistan have long-standing relations.
Earlier, the prime minister held a one-on-one meeting with the visiting Tajik President Emomali Rahmon, in which matters pertaining to bilateral ties, issues of mutual interest and regional issues.
The one on one meeting will be followed by delegation level talks.
Previously, Federal Minister for Commerce Syed Naveed Qamar received the Tajik president as he alighted from his special aircraft, at the Islamabad International Airport.
Cannons boomed for a 21-gun salute in honour of the visiting dignitary, besides a salute presented by the static guard. Two children clad in traditional Pakistani dresses presented bouquets to President Emomali Rahmon.
Joint presser
Later, addressing a joint presser, with President of Tajikistan Emamoli Rahmon, PM Shehbaz said that Pakistan wanted the establishment of energy, rail and road connectivity with the diverse energy resources rich Central Asian Republics (CARs) for the development and prosperity of the entire region.
The prime minister said Pakistan desired early completion of the Central Asia-South Asia (CASA-1000) power project to meet its energy needs.
He said Pakistan had been the first country that established ties with Tajikistan some 31 years back. Since then both countries had been enjoying excellent cordial and friendly ties.
Pakistan wanted to further strengthen the bilateral cooperation and ties in all fields including energy, trade, joint ventures in agriculture and food etc, he added.
Sharif further said Pakistan attached immense importance to its bilateral ties with Tajikistan as it was a gateway to the CARs. He informed that they held very productive meetings to further strengthen the bilateral relations and promote trade, investment and culture between the people of two brotherly nations.
The premier expressed the hope that Tajik President Emomali Rahmon’s visit to Pakistan ‘would usher in new era of cooperation and development between the two countries.
He also welcomed the Tajik president and his delegation and said that the people of Pakistan were overwhelmed with joy and pleasure over their visit.
On the occasion, President Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon, reciprocating the warm feelings for the government and people of Pakistan, said that his country attached high priority to its ties with Pakistan.
He said both countries had been making joint efforts to further promote the friendly ties and expressed the optimism that the MoUs signed between the two countries would give new impetus to these relations.
He said during their delegation-level deliberations, they had discussed government-to-government level contacts, security, economic situation, global economic decay, energy and connectivity activities and linking of port city of Karachi.
He said they also had useful exchange of views on CASA-1000, cooperation in agriculture, energy connectivity, joint ventures in food technology, trade, science and technology and cooperation between the business communities of the two countries.
President Rahmon further said that both countries shared commonalities which served to further strengthen these ties.
The two sides also expressed satisfaction over cooperation in security and reaffirmed to face contemporary challenges jointly like extremism, terrorism and radicalism, he added.
He said that they also acknowledged the significance of concerted global efforts for a stable and peaceful Afghanistan, adding Tajikistan and Pakistan were also closely cooperating at the global level including UN, Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO), Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and other multilateral foras. He also wished for progress and prosperity of Pakistan and its people.
