Tajik President Emomali Rahmon concluded his visit to Pakistan
By Sarmad Hussain
Islamabad, Pakistan: Tajik President Emomali Rahmon concluded his visit to Pakistan by signing more agreements and Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) but without announcing direct flights between two countries or trade incentives for Tajik businessmen.
The only incentive that came out of this visit for businessmen was a Memorandum of Understanding on establishment of Joint Business Council. MoU the Joint Business Council was signed by President Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) Mian Muhammad Idrees and Head of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Tajikistan Sharif Said.
Tajik President Emomali Rahmon, who was in Pakistan for sixth time, termed his State visit another success and said the two countries laid a “solid foundation” by inking another set of agreements, that would help them explore new avenues of cooperation.
While, Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said the establishment of the Joint Business Council would strengthen their trade. A meeting on the sidelines of the visit would help the two business sectors interact and enter into joint ventures, he added. The two countries that increased their trade from a meager US 15 million dollars in 2011 to US 89 million in 2014 are trying to increase it to US 500 million dollars.
Tajikistan is poorest country among central Asian states and its proximity with Afghanistan make things worse for Tajikistan because its direct trade to Pakistan or India is almost impossible due to grave law and order situation in Afghanistan that falls between Pakistan and Tajikistan. There are no direct flights between Tajikistan and Pakistan therefore tourism between the two countries could not established in past. It may be mentioned that Tajikistan was connected with Pakistan through regular flights in early 90s but wave of terrorism in Pakistan compelled Tajik authorities to suspend flight connection in past.
