Business Recorder
Pakistan and Tajikistan have agreed to develop a three-year roadmap aimed at increasing bilateral trade to $200 million, as the two countries concluded the 8th Session of the Joint Commission on Trade, Economic and Scientific-Technical Cooperation in Dushanbe. According to a statement issued by the Ministry of Economic Affairs on Thursday, the meeting was co-chaired by Pakistan’s Federal Minister for Energy (Power Division), Sardar Awais Ahmad Khan Leghari, and Tajikistan’s Minister of Energy and Water Resources, Jum’a Daler Shofaqir. The two sides reviewed cooperation across a wide range of sectors, including energy, trade, industry, health, transport, agriculture, education, science and technology, media, tourism, sports and culture. Pakistan emphasized the need to expand trade, investment and regional connectivity, while both countries agreed to organize trade delegations, business-to-business meetings and online business engagements to strengthen commercial ties. The sides also agreed to exchange information on tariffs, regulations and priority sectors for cooperation. The meeting welcomed the finalization of a memorandum of understanding between Tajikistan’s Agency for Export and Pakistan’s Trade Development Authority. Discussions were also held on a preferential trade agreement (PTA), with both countries agreeing to continue negotiations for its early conclusion. The two governments further agreed to enhance cooperation in government-to-government procurement through a proposed agreement between Tajikistan’s Agency for State Material Reserves and the Trading Corporation of Pakistan. In the energy sector, both sides praised progress on the CASA-1000 Project and stressed the need for timely completion of the remaining work to make the project operational. Pakistan and Tajikistan reaffirmed participation in the CASA-1000 Joint Working Group meeting scheduled for June 2026 in Istanbul to resolve outstanding commercial and operational issues. Tajikistan also expressed interest in attracting investment from Pakistan Petroleum Limited and Oil and Gas Development Company Limited in its exploration and production sector. The two countries additionally endorsed technical cooperation and training opportunities for Tajik oil and gas professionals through Pakistan’s Oil and Gas Training Institute. In agriculture, the two sides agreed to strengthen cooperation in agricultural trade and the exchange of information on high-potential and seasonal products. They also discussed collaboration on high-yield crop varieties, including cotton, wheat, potatoes and vegetables, and agreed to finalize a roadmap for agricultural cooperation while enhancing collaboration in phytosanitary and veterinary fields. The session also focused on educational and scientific cooperation. Tajikistan proposed collaboration between the Tajikistan University of Technology and the National University of Sciences and Technology in engineering, information technology and architecture. Both countries agreed to encourage joint research projects in water resources, hydropower, ecology and agriculture. The co-chairs also endorsed proposals for greater cooperation in culture, tourism, youth affairs and sports, with an emphasis on promoting sustainable tourism. During the visit, Leghari called on Tajik Prime Minister Qohir Rasulzoda and conveyed greetings from Pakistan’s leadership. The two sides discussed the timely completion of the CASA-1000 project, development of trade and connectivity corridors, operationalization of direct flights and visa facilitation measures. The Tajik prime minister expressed satisfaction over the outcome of the Joint Commission meeting and highlighted the importance of sustaining momentum in bilateral relations through more frequent meetings. Both countries reaffirmed their commitment to deepening cooperation in trade, agriculture, energy, tourism and regional connectivity, while exploring mechanisms to further strengthen their strategic partnership.
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