Pakistan-Tajikistan: Protocol on bilateral cooperation signed

ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister of Privatisation Syed Naveed Qamar and Tajikistan Minister of Energy Gul Sherali have signed a protocol at the fourth session of the Pakistan-Tajikistan Joint Ministerial Commission (JMC) in Tajikistan.

The protocol provides information on bilateral cooperation in various fields such as agriculture, education and energy, said a statement issued on Wednesday.

At the JMC session, the ministers reviewed bilateral relations, identified areas of cooperation and suggested ways to strengthen bilateral cooperation. They emphasised the need of an early implementation of the CASA-1000 electricity supply project and expressed their commitment to mutually beneficial cooperation in economy, energy, trade and infrastructure.

Qamar said that despite the recent floods, the global financial crisis and Pakistan’s contribution to the war on terror, the country had shown that it had a resilient economy as foreign reserves had crossed $17 billion.

Appreciating a three-time increase in bilateral trade over the last year, Qamar noted that trade between the two sides at $21 million was still below the potential. He believed that bilateral trade should be increased to benefit people in both countries.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 3^rd, 2011.