DUSHANBE: Pakistan and Tajikistan on Friday signed several agreements and memorandums of agreement for cooperation in diverse areas, including trade, investment, banking, tourism, and information and broadcasting.

Prime Minister Imran Khan and Tajik President Emomali Rahmon witnessed the signing of agreement papers at a ceremony held at the Qasr-i-Millat here, which followed a one-to-one meeting between the two leaders and talks between their two delegations.

Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Adviser to the Prime Minister on Commerce Abdul Razak Dawood and Pakistan’s Ambassador to Dushanbe Imran Haider and their counterparts from the Tajik side signed the documents on behalf of their respective countries.

Prime Minister Khan and President Rahmon hold talks aimed at strengthening cooperation between the two sides

The agreements and accords signed on the occasion included: MoU between the governments of Pakistan and Tajikistan for cooperation in the sphere of tourism, hospitality and investment in the tourism sector; MoU on mutual cooperation for archives and libraries development between the two governments; protocol to amend the existing convention between the two countries for avoidance of double taxation and the prevention of fiscal evasion with respect to taxes on income; MoU between Financial Monitoring Department under the National Bank of Tajikistan and Financial Monitoring Unit of Pakistan concerning cooperation in the exchange of financial intelligence related to money laundering-related predicate offences and financing of terrorism; and, MOU between the National Bank of Tajikistan and State Bank of Pakistan on supervisory cooperation.

Speaking at a joint press conference with President Rahmon, Prime Minister Khan said the two sides held wide-ranging talks for strengthening cooperation in diverse fields and finding ways to enhance trading of goods, including textile and pharmaceutical products.

The prime minister congratulated the Tajik president for successfully hosting the 20th meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisa­tion’s Council of Heads of States.

He said that he and his delegation were impressed with the development achieved by Tajikistan. “We have seen the development, buildings and greenery. I think you have a passion for development. We are impressed,” he added.

Published in Dawn, September 18th, 2021