ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has agreed to facilitate landlocked Tajikistan to import more than 100,000 tonnes of oil from Kuwait via Torkham and also extend surplus wheat to Dushanbe.

Informed sources told Dawn that Tajikistan was currently in talks with Kuwait for import of 100,000 tonnes of crude oil in the first phase and gradually increase it to 1-2 million tonnes in few years.

President Emomali Rahmonov, who is visiting Kuwait now a days, dispatched a special delegation to request Pakistan provide services for the oil movement including a refinery and transportation facilities.

On Monday, Minister of State for Reserves of Tajikistan Noor Muhammad Akhmedov and Tajik Ambassador in Pakistan Jononov Sherali had first round of talks with Minister for Water and Power Khawaja Mohammad Asif, who is chairperson of the Joint Ministerial Commission. The delegation would also hold talks with ministers for commerce and petroleum on Tuesday before flying back.

The sources said they also requested to facilitate setting up of an oil refinery near Karachi where crude oil imported from Kuwait could be processed. On a question, the visiting minister was also reported to have informed Mr Asif that main requirements for Tajikistan would be diesel and petrol while remaining products could be used in Pakistan or re-exported.

He said Tajikistan would welcome Pakistan to have its refinery from which Dushanbe would like to have dedicated supplies of major projects or Tajikistan could also consider arranging investments for a refinery provided Islamabad facilitated other services.

He said Dushanbe was discussing import of 100,000 tonnes of crude in the first stage which would be increased to 1,000,000 to 2,000,000 tonnes in phases because of low transportation cost.

The visiting minister said his country also wanted to purchase wheat from Pakistan to benefit from low transportation cost.

The two sides also discussed involvement of Pakistan Railways (PR) and laying of a rail line from Torkham to Tajikistan. They agreed to include laying of rail line to Tajikistan in the upcoming JMC meeting due next month where PR authorities would also be invited for technical input and feasibility study.

Mr Asif on the occasion said the gas, road, railways and transmission link between Tajikistan and Pakistan was necessary for the economic interests of the two countries.

It was agreed that the transportation route via Pakistan was best and possibly cheapest route. They noted that Tajikistan was a landlocked country and road and railway link between two countries would not only boost economic activities but also strengthen the bilateral relationship which would ultimately upgrade the standard of living in the region.

The visiting minister said the his country imported 90 per cent of sugar and 50pc fertilisers from Pakistan, an official statement said.

Mr Asif agreed that both countries must work on rail and road link to facilitate the cheapest transportation of goods.

Published in Dawn December 23th , 2014