ISLAMABAD, Aug 26: Pakistan and Kyrgyzstan on Tuesday agreed to negotiate a host of agreements in various fields for enhancing the volume of bilateral trade.

The agreement was reached between the senior officials of the two countries led by their respective ministers during the first meeting of Pakistan-Kyrgyz Joint Ministerial Commission (JMC) held here on Tuesday.

Both the countries agreed for early finalization of agreements that would cover the areas of avoidance of double taxation and prevention of fiscal evasion, agreement on culture and sports, science and technology, consular convention, taxation, visa restrictions, conducting of fairs and exhibition and agreement on trade.

Speaking at a joint press conference, Commerce Minister Humayun Akhtar Khan said that in order to achieve the benefits of cooperation in trade and other matters, the business delegation of both countries would visit each other during the next six months. He said the next JMC would be held in Bishkek in 2004.

Due to restricted visa regime followed by the Kyrgyz government since the event of 9/11 incident, Pakistan’s export to Kyrgyzstan was constantly on decline.

He said that restoration of normalization in Afghanistan would not only result in the enhancement in trade to that country but it would also facilitate Pakistan’s trade to Central Asian Republics (CARs).

In reply to a question, Mr Humayun said both the sides agreed to establish road and air links between the two countries.

Speaking at the occasion, Kyrgyzstan Health Minister and head of the delegation Mitalip Mamytove said the two sides discussed issues relating to various fields and agreed on measures for enhancing economic, trade, industrial and cultural cooperation between the two countries.

He said these agreements would be signed in the near future, which he said, would result in strengthening of relation between the two countries.

Answering a question, he said relationship between the two countries would get a further boost during the forthcoming visit of the Kyrgyz president to Pakistan. The Kyrgyz president during his visit to Islamabad would meet his Pakistani counterpart and the prime minister and also sign agreements on cooperation in the field of education, culture, science and technology.

Mr Mamytove said the agreement on linking Bishkek with Quetta through land route would be signed shortly.

When asked about the partial implementation of an agreement on trade and economic ties signed in December 1994 between the two countries, the minister said during the visit of the Kyrgyz president the issue would be resolved.

Responding to another question, the minister said the issue of restriction on issuance of visas to Pakistani nationals would be relaxed soon.

At present Kyrgyz visas are issued to only Pakistani officials and on diplomatic passports, while for ordinary passports, visa applications by Pakistani nationals are being rejected by the Kyrgyz authorities without due consideration.

He said Kyrgyzstan was interested in establishing cooperation with Pakistan in the field of customs so as to facilitate increased trade between the two countries.