- Says early completion of CASA-1000 power project to help meet energy needs
- President Emomali Rahmon says attaches high priority to ties with Pakistan
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday 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.
During a joint press stakeout with President of Tajikistan Emamoli Rahmon, the prime minister said Pakistan desired early completion of the Central Asia-South Asia (CASA-1000) power project to meet its energy needs.
President of Tajikistan H.E. Emomali Rahmon and Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif hold one-on-one meeting soon after the arrival of Tajik President at Prime Minister House ( 14 December, 2022) pic.twitter.com/k7MjCvkdXC
— Prime Minister's Office (@PakPMO) December 14, 2022
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.
Our vision for Central Asia is premised on building result-oriented & sustained engagement. Tajikistan, being a gateway to Central Asia, holds key a position in our foreign policy. Our challenge is to transform our excellent relations into a mutually beneficial partnership.
— Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) December 14, 2022
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.
LIVE #APPNews : Joint Press Stakeout by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Tajik President Emomali Rahmon at PM House #Islamabad https://t.co/BeWvk4CPm5
— APP 🇵🇰 (@appcsocialmedia) December 14, 2022
The Prime Minister further said Pakistan attached immense importance to its bilateral ties with Tajikistan as it was a gateway to the CARs.
Happy to receive my brother President Emomali Rahmon at PM House today. We had very productive discussions & agreed to scale up the existing level of cooperation by focusing on energy, trade & security. We have the resolve to leverage our relations for the good of two countries.
— Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) December 14, 2022
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.
Prime Minister Muhamad Shehbaz Sharif and President of Tajikistan H.E. Emomali Rehmon sign Joint Communiqué of the visit of Tajik President to Pakistan ( 14 December, 2022) pic.twitter.com/o6UymTMnbo
— Prime Minister's Office (@PakPMO) December 14, 2022
The prime minister 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.
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 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.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif received the Tajik president on his arrival at the PM House.
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.#APPNews pic.twitter.com/6HA3zXqjK6
— APP 🇵🇰 (@appcsocialmedia) December 14, 2022
He also wished for progress and prosperity of Pakistan and its people.
Earlier, Tajik President and the Prime Minister of Pakistan witnessed the inking of a number of MoUs and agreements to boost bilateral cooperation in diverse fields.
These MoUs and agreements included MoU for establishment of Sister Cities Relations between Dushanbe and Islamabad, Agreement over cooperation in industries and technology, Agreement over Transit Trade, Agreement between Tajik Drug Control Agency and Anti-Narcotics Force Pakistan to control illicit trade of narcotics drugs, and psychotropic material etc; agreement for cooperation between Tajikistan Agency of Standardization, Meteorology, Certification and Trade Inspection and Pakistan’s Standards and Quality Control Authority, MoU between Customs Service of Tajikistan and Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) over establishment of electronic data interchange, MoU between Institute of Water Problems, Hydropower and Technology of the Academy of Science Tajikistan and Pakistan Council of Research in Water Resources, MoU between University of Peshawar and Tajik National University and signing of the joint communique by the Tajik President and the Prime Minister of Pakistan.
PM, Tajik president hold one-on-one meeting
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon held a one-on-one here at the PM’s House and discussed matters of bilateral interest.
In the meeting, the two sides discussed regional and international issues besides focusing on strengthening their ties in diverse fields
Tajik president receives red-carpet welcome at PM House
Tajikistan’s President Emomali Rahmon was accorded a red-carpet welcome here Wednesday at the Prime Minister’s House as he arrived in the capital on a two-day visit.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif received the Tajik president on his arrival at the PM House.
President of Tajikistan H.E. Emomali Rahmon inspects Guard of Honor at Prime Minister House (14 December, 2022) pic.twitter.com/XlaxoGdW9P
— Prime Minister's Office (@PakPMO) December 14, 2022
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. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and President Rahmon introduced their delegations to each other.
President Emomali Rahmon also planted a sapling in the lawns of the PM’s House. Later, the two leaders along with their delegations proceeded for talks.
Earlier, Federal Minister for Commerce Syed Naveed Qamar received the Tajik president as he alighted from his special aircraft, here 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.
Earlier, Tajikistan President Emomali Rahmon arrived in Pakistan on a two-day official visit at the invitation of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. Tajik president was received by Federal Commerce Minister Syed Naveed Qamar.
A twenty-one gun salute was performed to honour the visiting dignitary and a contingent of guards presented a static guard of honour to the Tajik president. According to Foreign Affairs Ministry, during the visit, the two sides will exchange views on further strengthening bilateral cooperation in various areas.
A number of bilateral agreements and MoUs are expected to be signed.
