Islamabad, 28 March 2023 (GNP): In order to advance the development of the two friendly nations, President Dr. Arif Alvi has urged for boosting trade and economic ties with Tajikistan. He also added that initiatives should be done to strengthen trade and investment cooperation with Tajikistan. The President made this statement when speaking with Muhammad Saeed Sarwar, Pakistan’s ambassador to Tajikistan.
The President told the ambassador that Pakistan and Tajikistan had long-standing historical and cultural ties and that as part of its “Vision Central Asia” programme, Pakistan sought to develop stronger, more productive relationships with all the Central Asian countries.
He emphasised that Pakistan was still dedicated to improving the region’s political, economic, and energy connections, and that the CASA-1000 energy project was a key element of this plan.
The President urged the Ambassador to work on enhancing Pakistan’s reputation in addition to fostering closer trade, energy, and business ties with the host nation. He emphasised the importance of creating scholarly connections between the educational institutions of the two nations.
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Tajik students might take advantage of Pakistan’s online and remote education programmes by gaining access to their course materials through the Virtual University of Pakistan and Allama Iqbal Open University, he continued.
The President further emphasised the importance of drawing attention to India’s anti-Muslim and anti-minority policies as well as the atrocities carried out by Indian Security Forces in illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK).
The President congratulated Muhammad Saeed Sarwar on his appointment as Pakistan’s ambassador to Tajikistan and urged him to endeavour to further solidify the two countries’ relations.
Pakistan’s Trade with Tajikistan
Pakistan had a trade surplus of about US$ 1.2 million in 2020 as a consequence of its exports to Tajikistan, which totaled US$ 2.1 million, and its imports from Tajikistan, which totaled US$ 836,000.
Buttermilk, wilkings, citrus, and pharmaceutical products are Pakistan’s primary exports to Tajikistan; textiles and kidney beans are Pakistan’s significant imports from Tajikistan.
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To Tajikistan, Pakistan could potentially enhance exports of goods in the food and beverage, agricultural, and live animal and animal product sectors in 2020. For each group, Pakistan has an export potential of at least $12.5 million. Pharmaceuticals, paints and varnishes, food preparations, grains, bananas, and dairy goods are only a few of the items that are being sent to Tajikistan.
Metals, machinery & electrical equipment, plastics & rubber, and other industries with prospective markets in Tajikistan include those with combined export potentials of at least US$ 71.2 million in 2020.
Pakistan exported services of US$ 1.3 million to Tajikistan in fiscal year 2020, while it imported services worth US$ 2.7 million from Tajikistan. In FY 2020, Pakistan’s trade deficit with Tajikistan in services was about US$ 1.4 million.
Pakistan and Tajikistan can improve economic ties by boosting trade in various areas.