Gilani for exploiting true potential of Pak-Tajik trade
ISLAMABAD, Mar 8 (APP): Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani said on Tuesday that Pakistan and Tajikistan held great potential for bilateral economic and commercial cooperation. “Our mutual trade figure has reached record US $21 million in 2010. Still, this figure is far below our true potential and both the countries should explore new areas of collaboration, as well as consolidate and enhance existing economic ties, to propel our economies towards stability and prosperity,” the Prime Minister said while speaking at a banquet hosted in honour of Tajik President Emomali Rahmon.
He said that relations between the two brotherly countries have grown from strength to strength, especially in the last three years.
Both the countries, he said, shared a history of mutual respect, sincere and deep affection, and constant support for each other in times of need as well as the traditional support for each other in various regional and international forums like ECO, OIC and UN.
The Prime Minister said that the world of today was geared towards achieving economic stability and technological innovation. Alongside, it was facing harsher challenges like terrorism, drugs trade, organized crime etc.
Both the countries face similar challenges of militancy, drugs and narcotics and organized crimes, he said and expressed satisfaction over enhanced defecse and security ties between the two countries.
Pakistan reiterates its commitment to further deepen these relations in the field of defence production and provision of training facilities to Tajikistan, the Prime Minister said.
He said that Pakistan also attached great importance to Tajikistan’s regional role in maintaining peace and stability in Afghanistan.
“We welcome the Quadrilateral initiative as an extremely important step towards achieving security and stability in the region. It is the first ever initiative of this kind that has dealt with security and trade related challenges under a broad framework and Pakistan remains a strong partner of this initiative”, the Prime Minister said.
The world of today is fostering partnerships in the fields of energy, agriculture and connectivity, he said and added that Pakistan reaffirmed its strong resolve to cultivate opportunities for trans-regional development.
In the field of energy cooperation, he said, Pakistan remained committed to the early implementation of CASA-1000 project.
Pakistan is aptly poised to explore the possibility of Preferential Trade Agreements and increase opportunities of mutual trade, he said, adding,”the recently concluded Afghanistan-Pakistan Transit Trade Agreement has enhanced avenues of our trade linkages, and is a truly welcoming feature”.
He said that Pakistan was deeply committed to enhancing increased air, road and rail connectivity with its brotherly neighbour. That would not only bring the two countries closer, but also prove a great milestone towards achieving economic stability in the region, he added.
The Prime Minister said that the two countries should facilitate greater contacts between the private sectors and business communities. This collaboration has the power to unleash the greatest possible opportunities for the two nations by phenomenally increasing employment and generating revenue and trade, he added.
The strong bonds of cultural affinity run through the fabric of the two nations and this must be translated into enhanced cultural cooperation between the two countries, he said.
Gilani said that there was immense scope for establishing close cooperation between the academia and students of the two countries and both the countries could also explore the possibility of establishing close collaboration between the major universities.
The Prime Minister thanked the government and people of Tajikistan for donating generously to the flood-affected people of Pakistan.
He said that the visit would add a fresh chapter of mutual cooperation, enhanced collaboration and opportunities of joint ventures for the two countries.
The Prime Minister hoped that the close fraternal links between the two countries were befittingly aligned to mutual economic interests and were well equipped to further this cooperation on a stronger footing.
Federal ministers, parliamentarians, Chief of the Army Staff Gen Ashfaque Kayani, diplomats and senior officers attended the banquet.