Pakistan ready to give Tajikistan 'access to Gwadar, Karachi ports'

ASTANA: Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday, while highlighting the importance of promoting connectivity in the region, reiterated Pakistan's readiness to provide access to Tajikistan to Gwadar and Karachi ports, media reports said.

In a meeting with President Emomali Rahmon in Kazakhstan's capital Astana, Sharif emphasised the expansion of cooperation in the field of road transport and air links, Express Tribune reported.

The two leaders, who met on the sidelines of the 6th Summit of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA), agreed on cementing high-level contacts, inter-parliamentary ties, and technical-level meetings to further promote substantive cooperation.

The Prime Minister underscored the need to boost cooperation in the energy sector.

It was agreed to work together for the early completion of CASA 1000 project, which would be a harbinger of future energy corridors with Central Asia, Express Tribune reported.

Sharif also updated the Tajik President on the rehabilitation work being undertaken by his government in the aftermath of the catastrophic floods in the country.

He stressed the need to make joint efforts to cope with the rising threat of climate change-induced natural disasters.

The two leaders also discussed regional and global issues of mutual interest and agreed on the need to work together to strengthen peace, stability and security in the region.

Both sides also agreed to strengthen their engagement for fostering greater economic cooperation, particularly in the areas of trade, energy and connectivity.