The Federal Minister of Water & Power and Defence, Khawaja Muhammad Asif paid an official visit to Dushanbe, Tajikistan from 11-13 January 2016
The Federal Minister of Water & Power and Defence, Khawaja Muhammad Asif paid an official visit to Dushanbe, Tajikistan from 11-13 January 2016. He was accompanied by a high level delegation including Chairman WAPDA, Chairman, NHA and Secretary, National Security Division.
During the visit, the first meeting of the Joint Working Group on Energy and Infrastructure between the two countries was held on 11-12 January in Dushanbe. The Pakistani delegation was led by the Federal Minister of Water & Power while Mr. Usmonali Usmonzoda, Minister of Energy and Water Resources of the Republic of Tajikistan led the Tajik Delegation. At the end of the meeting, a Protocol was signed between the two sides. In the Protocol, both sides expressed their satisfaction on the growing cooperation between the two countries in energy, infrastructure and other spheres of mutual interest and resolved to further strengthen the same.
The Protocol also stressed the need for completion of CASA-1000 project by 2018 and holding of its inaugural ceremony in Tajikistan in May 2016. In addition, both sides resolved to implement the road connectivity projects between the two countries on priority.
The parties agreed to hold the second Joint Working Group meeting in January 2017 in Pakistan.
The Federal Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif also held meetings with Tajik President Emomali Rahmon, and the Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Defense, and Industry of the Republic of Tajikistan. During the meetings, both sides expressed their satisfaction at the growing multifaceted cooperation between the two brotherly countries and resolved to further solidify the bilateral cooperation for mutual benefit.
The delegation departed for Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic on the second leg of the visit in the morning of 13 January 2016, where they will be meeting the Kyrgyz leadership.