ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Tajikistan have agreed to strengthen economic cooperation in trade, energy and connectivity.

The understanding was reached during meeting between Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif and President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon in Astana on Thursday, on the sidelines of 6th Summit of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA).

The two leaders also agreed on early completion of CASA-1000 project, which would be a harbinger of future energy corridors with Central Asia. Both leaders agreed on further increasing high-level contacts, inter-parliamentary ties and technical level meetings to promote substantive cooperation.

Discussing the regional and global issues of mutual interest, they agreed to work together to strengthen peace, stability and security in the region. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif updated the Tajik President on the rehabilitation work being undertaken by Pakistan in the flood affected areas of the country. He called for joint efforts to cope with the increasing danger of climate change induced natural disasters.

The Tajik President assured Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif of Tajikistan’s continuous support in this regard, including dispatch of an additional convoy of trucks carrying essential flood relief items.

Recalling his meeting with the Tajik President on the sidelines of SCO Summit at Samarkand, last month, Shehbaz Sharif expressed satisfaction over the steadily increasing bilateral engagement in diverse areas.

The Prime Minister stressed on enhancing connectivity via road transport and air links and reiterated Pakistan’s readiness to provide access to Tajikistan to Gwadar and Karachi ports.