Government and business leaders from the two countries reached the decision during official meetings held in Dushanbe from June 1-3, Tariq Iqbal Puri, CEO of the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP), told
Central Asia Online June 7.Puri led a 118-member Pakistani delegation that discussed potential co-operation in various fields with the Tajiks.
“The consent of Afghanistan is imperative to realise the 36km-long Chitral-Vakhan road project that would link Pakistan and Tajikistan and to build a 1000-MW power project to supply electricity to Pakistan,” Puri said.
Tajiks and Pakistanis also discussed potential nonstop flights between their countries, he said.
“Tajik officials were demanding $30,000 (Rs 2.58m) for landing rights for each flight from Pakistan, but we told them that international landing rates should be the benchmark ... (and) amount to $5,000 (Rs 430,000) only,” Puri said.
Another topic was textiles. “Pakistan and Tajikistan have decided to promote mutual investment in the textile sector,” Dr. Ikhtiar Baig Mirza, Prime Minister Yousuf Razi Gilani’s advisor for the textile industry, told Central Asia Online June 7. Baig returned to Karachi June 5 after discussions in Tajikistan.