Pakistan and Tajikistan signed two key Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) during the seventh session of the Pakistan-Tajikistan Joint Commission held in Islamabad. The agreements mark a significant step in enhancing bilateral cooperation, Radio Pakistan reported on Thursday.
Key Agreements and Initiatives
The MoUs include a partnership between Pakistan’s Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province and Tajikistan’s Khatlon province, fostering collaboration and mutual development. Additionally, a second MoU was signed between the football federations of both countries, aiming to promote sports diplomacy.
A business-to-business (B2B) forum is also scheduled to take place in Islamabad on December 13 to further boost economic ties.
Speaking at the event, Pakistan’s Federal Minister for Power, Sardar Awais Leghari, emphasized the importance of exploring new avenues of cooperation in trade, energy, and education. Tajikistan’s Minister for Energy and Water Resources, Juma Daler Shofaqir, co-chaired the session.
Transit Trade and Regional Connectivity
Leghari announced the establishment of a joint coordination committee to address transit trade challenges under the Pakistan-Tajikistan Trade Transit Agreement. He underscored Pakistan’s strategic role as a trade and transit hub, linking landlocked Central Asian nations to global markets via ports in Gwadar and Karachi.
He highlighted the geographical advantage provided by the Wakhan corridor, which separates Pakistan and Tajikistan by just 14 kilometers, as a prime opportunity for direct connectivity.
CASA-1000 Energy Project
Leghari also emphasized the importance of the $1.2 billion Central Asia-South Asia Electricity Transmission and Trade Project (CASA-1000). This project aims to transfer 1,300 megawatts of surplus electricity from Central Asia to South Asia through a 1,227-kilometer transmission line connecting Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan, and Pakistan.
“I sincerely hope the remaining work can be expedited to unlock the full potential of this vital energy cooperation,” Leghari said, highlighting its mutual benefits for the power sector.
Bilateral Trade Growth
Leghari called for a detailed plan of action to increase bilateral trade by removing barriers and enhancing trade activities. He noted that bilateral trade volume had grown significantly, reaching $52.73 million in 2023, a 62.3% increase compared to the previous year.
The meeting underscored Pakistan and Tajikistan’s shared commitment to strengthening ties in trade, energy, and regional connectivity, paving the way for enhanced cooperation and mutual prosperity.
