Tajikistan, CM discuss bilateral relations

PESHAWAR:

Chief Minister Pervez Khattak underlined efforts were being made to explore venues to enhance trade activities and boost socio-economic ties between Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Tajikistan. While talking to a delegation of the Republic of Tajikistan, headed by the ambassador of the country, Sherali Janonov at the CM Secretariat, Khattak discussed bilateral interests.

According to a handout issued on Sunday, the delegates expressed a desire to increase trade relations and highlighted the need to enhance mutual cooperation in the fields of energy, education, academia and culture between the two countries.

Developing hydel potential

Talking to the delegation, Khattak said the new industrial policy had been formulated to provide one-window operations to accelerate industrialisation in the province. “The power policy adopted in K-P was providing opportunities for public-private partnership and government-to-government cooperation in power generation in the province,” the document quoted him as saying.

The chief minister asked the delegates to apply Tajikistan’s experiences in the development of hydel potential in K-P for power generation.

According to the handout Khattak linked peace and stability in Afghanistan to the development of the entire region. He said China-Pakistan Economic Corridor would also benefit Afghanistan and Tajikistan. “We are not against the eastern route but want progress on the western route first,” the document quoted the CM as saying. He said a proper body had been devised to promote economic activities in the province.

Said Mehmood and first secretary of Tajikstan to Pakistan Syed Arif Shah accompanied Janonov along with others. Parliamentary Secretary Mian Khaleequr Rehman was also present on the occasion.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 15^th,  2016.