Pakistan, Tajikistan discuss road, railway links

Dushanbe seeks Islamabad’s help in importing crude, its refining.

ISLAMABAD: Tajikistan has sought Pakistan’s services for the import of crude oil from Kuwait, its refining here and then transportation through road and railway links between the Central and South Asian nations.

“It is the best and possibly cheapest route for the import of crude oil via Pakistan,” said Minister of State for Reserves of Tajikistan Noor Muhammad Akhmedov.

He said this during a meeting between a Tajikistan delegation and Federal Minister of Water and Power Khawaja Muhammad Asif here on Monday. The delegation also included Tajikistan Ambassador to Pakistan Jononov Sherali and other senior officials.

Akhmedov pointed out that Tajikistan is a landlocked country and road and railway links with Pakistan would not only give a boost to economic activities in the two countries but would also strengthen bilateral relationship and upgrade the standard of living in the region.



At present, Dushanbe imports 90% of its sugar needs and 50% of fertiliser demand from Islamabad.

Federal Minister of Water and Power Khawaja Muhammad Asif emphasised that the link between the two sides through roads, railways, a gas pipeline and transmission lines was necessary for promoting their economic interests.

“We must think about rail and road links, which will provide the cheapest way of transporting goods between the two countries.”

Asif said these projects would be comprehensively discussed in a meeting of the Joint Ministerial Commission in the middle of next year.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 23^rd, 2014.

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