Pakistan and Tajikistan have agreed on a three-year roadmap to raise bilateral trade to $200 million, alongside expanded cooperation in energy, agriculture, IT, health, and investment facilitation, during the 8th Session of the Joint Commission on Trade, Economic and Scientific-Technical Cooperation held in Dushanbe.
The Tajik delegation was led by Jum’a Daler Shofaqir, Minister of Energy and Water Resources of Tajikistan, while the Pakistani delegation was headed by Sardar Awais Ahmad Khan Leghari, Federal Minister for Energy (Power Division). Senior officials from Pakistan’s Economic Affairs Division, Commerce Ministry, SBP, and other departments also attended.
Both sides agreed to strengthen trade ties through regular exchange of trade data, participation in trade fairs, business forums, and enhanced engagement between private sector chambers. They also decided to organize trade delegations, B2B meetings, and virtual business interactions to expand commercial linkages.
A key outcome was the agreement to work toward a structured three-year plan to boost bilateral trade to USD 200 million, supported by improved tariff transparency and identification of priority sectors.
The two countries welcomed progress on multiple bilateral instruments, including a memorandum of understanding between Tajikistan’s export agency and Pakistan’s Trade Development Authority. Discussions also continued on a preferential trade arrangement, with both sides agreeing to accelerate its finalization.
Cooperation between Tajikistan’s state material reserves agency and Pakistan’s Trading Corporation was also agreed to support government-to-government procurement.
Energy cooperation remained a major focus, with both sides reviewing progress on the CASA-1000 electricity transmission project and emphasizing timely completion. They also confirmed participation in an upcoming joint working group meeting in Istanbul in June 2026 to resolve outstanding operational and commercial issues.
Tajikistan expressed readiness to explore investment opportunities for Pakistan Petroleum Limited and Oil and Gas Development Company Limited in its upstream sector, including access to technical data and exploration opportunities. Both sides also agreed on technical training cooperation for oil and gas professionals.
In industry and services, the two countries discussed potential joint ventures in pharmaceuticals, artificial leather, footwear, chemical products, and light manufacturing. Pakistan offered training programs in digital marketing, e-commerce, freelancing, and content creation for Tajik professionals to support IT sector development.
Agriculture cooperation was expanded with agreement on exchange of information on crops, trade in seasonal produce, and testing of high-yield varieties including cotton, wheat, potatoes, and vegetables. Both sides also committed to finalizing a 2026–2028 agriculture cooperation roadmap covering phytosanitary and veterinary collaboration.
Health sector cooperation will include pharmaceutical registration and imports, training in medical manufacturing, and possible joint production of medical equipment in Tajikistan.
In education and research, both countries agreed to strengthen university linkages, particularly between engineering and technology institutions, and to promote joint research in water resources, hydropower, agriculture, and environmental sciences.
Cultural and tourism cooperation was also discussed, with emphasis on mountain tourism in the Pamir-Karakoram-Hindu Kush region, heritage promotion along the Silk Route, and expanded youth and sports exchanges.
Both sides concluded the meeting by reaffirming commitment to long-term strategic cooperation and acknowledging progress made during the session.
Get the latest business news, market insights, and economic updates wherever you prefer.
Add ProPakistani to Preferred Sources and see more of our stories in Google Search and Top Stories.