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| Zardari for building trade, energy corridors with Central Asia |
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Saturday, October 24, 2009
By Asim Yasin
ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari said on Friday Pakistan would like to build trade and energy corridors with Central Asia for the development of the entire region. He was talking to Chairman State Committee on National Security of Tajikistan Colonel General Khayriddin S Abdurahimov, who called on him here at the Presidency.
Matters pertaining to bilateral relations in the fields of trade and commerce, transportation, infrastructure, energy and security cooperation to fight militancy and terrorism were discussed during the meeting.
Briefing media about the meeting, Farhatullah Babar, spokesperson for the president, said President Zardari urged for collective measures and joint strategy between Pakistan and Tajikistan to curb organised drug trade which, he said, was a ready source of funding to militants and terrorism.
The spokesperson said the president, while recalling his last visit to Tajikistan in July this year, said that the establishment of trade and energy corridors with Central Asia would further boost the trade and commercial ties not only between the two countries but also within the entire region.
He said that Pakistan was so strategically located that it could become the hub of trade and commerce in the region. The president said that the rail and roads links between the two countries through Afghanistan will give Tajikistan access to the sea through the Pakistani sea ports and added that opening up of road links was critical to bringing the countries of the region closer and for increasing trade and people-to- people contacts for economic and social benefits of all countries. “A pre-feasibility study of the 1,300 kilometre-long road connecting Pakistan with Tajikistan and Central Asia through the Durrah Pass has already been undertaken,” he said.
The spokesperson said President Zardari also emphasised early implementation of the 1,000 kilometre-long power transmission line from Tajikistan to Pakistan, known as Central Asia-South Asia (CASA)-1000.
He told reporters that the president also urged for initiating a strategic dialogue on regional peace, security and development between the two countries.The president said that the government had lifted restrictions on the travel of Tajik nationals to Pakistan. “We welcome Tajik businessmen and citizens to visit Pakistan and move freely after completing the usual normal visa formalities.”
The spokesperson said the president noted that the level of trade and economic cooperation between Pakistan and Tajikistan did not match the level of political relationship between the two countries and there was a need to enhance the bilateral economic and trade ties between the two countries.
Babar said Colonel General Abdurahimov assured support of to curb the menace of drug and narcotics in the region. He said that Tajikistan was desirous of further enhancing the bilateral relations with Pakistan in all fields, including defence and security cooperation.
Khayriddin S Abdurahimov was accompanied by Zubaydullo W Zubaydov, Tajik ambassador in Islamabad, and a senior official of Ministry of State Security. Secretary General to the President, M Salman Faruqui and other senior Pakistani officials were also present in the meeting.
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ISSN 1563-9479 
