ISLAMABAD, May 6: Pakistan and Tajkistan agreed on Thursday to enhance bilateral trade and economic cooperation and set up road and air-link. Pakistan is expected to start import of energy and cotton from Tajkistan and export cement and irrigation technologies.

The two sides are expected to sign formal agreements to this effect during the forthcoming visit of Tajik President to Islamabad. They would sign a protocol on Friday for increasing economic cooperation between the two countries.

The Pakistan-Tajik Joint Economic Commission that started its two-day deliberations here on Thursday also identified infrastructure, manufacturing, textiles, cement, banking, oil and gas, capital markets, scientific technology, tourism, mining, energy, irrigation and agriculture as potential areas of economic cooperation between the two countries.

Soliev Khakim, Tajik Minister for Trade and Economy and Shaukat Aziz, Finance Minister led delegations of their respective countries. Soliev Khakim recalled that soon after Tajkistan's independence, Pakistan was one of the countries to have established diplomatic relations.

He said that there was will at the highest level to increase bilateral cooperation between the two countries to realize its full potential.