ISLAMABAD: Pakistan will import an additional 1,000 megawatts of electricty from Tajikistan outside the Casa-1000 project, a meeting of the Pakistan-Tajikistan Joint Commission on Trade, Economic and Scientific Cooperation agreed on Thursday.

Under the multi-country Casa-1000 electricity transmission and trade project between Central Asian and South Asian countries, Pakistan is to import 1,000MW of electricity.

Pakistan and Tajikistan expressed their satisfaction over the progress made so far in the realisation of Casa-1000 project and also expressed the resolve to initiate physical work on the project as early as possible to achieve the desired delivery of energy.

The two countries notified names of technical committee members and the first meeting of the committee will be held soon. The committee will review the previous reports prepared by the Tajikistan side and will develop a roadmap for future activities.

The two countries also agreed to establish joint ventures with OGDCL and the PPL on exploring and processing oil and gas in Tajikistan on government-to-government basis.

According to decisions taken in the meeting, the Tajikistan side showed interest to establish joint ventures with Pakistani investors in processing of ginned cotton, wool and leather finished products which include cotton fabric, sewn and knitted products, leather jackets, bags and shoes.

In order to effectively collaborate in the field of agriculture, it was decided that a joint working group will be formed. The composition of the group will be decided through diplomatic channels.

The two countries agreed to enhance business-to-business contacts through organising the second meeting of the Joint Business Council on the sidelines of the inaugural session of a joint working group on trade, investment and transport at Dushanbe in October this year.

The proposed bilateral transport agreement will also be discussed during the Dushanbe joint working group meeting.

Both sides agreed to sign a memorandum of understanding between the State Bank of Pakistan and the National Bank of Tajikistan on supervisory cooperation.

In this regard, the State Bank will share a draft agreement through diplomatic channels within three months.

Published in Dawn, June 17th, 2016