ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: The Ambassador of Tajikistan in Islamabad Sherali Saidamir Jononove on Monday acknowledged efforts of Dispatch News Desk (DND) for linking Central Asia with Pakistan and appreciated senior journalist and Chief Editor of DND Agha Iqra Haroon for Pakistan-Tajikistan relations, hoping that such efforts would lead to further cement bilateral ties.
In a meeting held in Islamabad on Monday between the Tajikistan’s ambassador the two sides held a discussion covering issues especially related to trade, economy and politics. Agha Iqrar Haroon has been working as a development observer in the regions of South Asia, Central Asia and Eastern Europe since long.
The Tajik envoy said that Dushanbe and Islamabad have been enjoying friendly and cordial relations since early 1990s as Pakistan was one of the first among those countries who recognized Tajikistan as an independent country. He added that the government of Prime Minister Mian Nawaz Sharif is working hard to establish solid relations between the two countries while President of Tajikistan considers Pakistan as one of the closet ally and trusted friend.
The ambassador said that Tajikistan would export 1,000 megawatts of hydroelectric power to Pakistan by 2018 under Central Asia South Asia (CASA-1000) project through a 750-kilometre-long transmission line with an estimated cost of $1.16 billion. He said that the project to a large extent will help overcome energy shortage in Pakistan.
Sherali Saidamir Jononove appreciated DND news agency for understanding Central Asia and linking this region to South Asia through its efforts of providing information in Russian, English and Urdu. He stated such efforts were very important to establish understanding of regions among people and people to people contact is must for broad based relations among regions.
In his remarks, Agha Iqrar Haroon thanked the Tajik envoy for appreciating his efforts and expressed hope that the two countries would continue to come closer in the future by virtue of Sherali Saidamir Jononove’s commitment to take Pak-Tajik relationship into a new level.
