ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: The Tajik Foreign Minister Aslov Sirodjidin Muhridinovich called on Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in Islamabad on Friday and held a discussion on various issues pertaining to bilateral relations particularly trade and economic.
During the meeting, the prime minister stressed the need for improving trade relations between Pakistan and Tajikistan. He said that the two countries should take measures to encourage travel and tourism including regular exchange of cultural troupes.
The prime minister also said that both the countries need to encourage people-to-people contact by facilitating travel and tourism.
Sharif further said that Pakistan attaches great importance to timely completion of the Central Asia-South Asia Regional Energy and Trade (CASA-1000) project.
Under the CASA-1000 agreement, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan will provide 700 megawatt electricity to Pakistan via Afghanistan, enabling Islamabad to meet its energy needs.
Earlier, the Tajik foreign minister also held a meeting with President Mamnoon Hussain in Islamabad during which the latter said that Pakistan is keen to further strengthen the existing ties with Tajikistan as there exists a vast potential to further cement bilateral relations in 
various areas including trade, energy, defence and security etc.
The president said that the existing volume of bilateral trade does not commensurate with the true potential of the two countries in this important area.
President Mamnoon also underscored the need for enhanced connectivity between the two countries through air, road and rail link in order to facilitate travel, transit, transportation and tourism.
