VISIT OF THE PRIME MINISTER OF PAKSITAN, MR. MUHAMMAD NAWAZ SHARIF TO TAJIKISTAN ON 09-10 JUNE 2015

Prime Minister of Pakistan, Mr. Muhammad Nawaz Sharif visited Dushanbe, Tajikistan on 09-10 June 2015, at the invitation of the Republic of Tajikistan to participate in the High Level International Conference on the Implementation of the International Decade for Action “Water for Life” 2005-2015. He was accompanied by a high-level delegation comprising Minister for Water and Power, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs, Chairman WAPDA and senior officials.

The Prime Minister delivered a statement at the inaugural session of the Conference. While supporting Tajik President’s proposal on announcement of a New International Decade for Action: “Water for Sustainable Development”, the Prime Minister suggested calling it International Decade for Enhanced Action “Water for Sustainable Development for All”.

During the visit, a bilateral one-on-one meeting was held between the Prime Minster of Pakistan and the President of Tajikistan, followed by delegation level talks. The whole range of bilateral relations came under discussion. The leaders also exchanged views on regional and international issues of mutual concern.

The two leaders expressed satisfaction over the development of bilateral relations and noted that a vast potential existed for expansion of cooperation in the fields of economy, trade, investment, education, science, culture, energy, transport, defence, security.

The two sides also emphasized the importance of the Joint Commission on Energy and Infrastructure, established in June 2014, and decided that the Commission shall meet twice a year to explore the possibilities of mutually beneficial cooperation in the fields of energy and infrastructure.

The leaders stressed on the need to strengthen the capacity of transit and transportation, including through enhanced cooperation at the regional level. In this regard, the two sides noted that early finalization of the trilateral agreement on transit trade among Afghanistan, Pakistan and Tajikistan will contribute to economic and trade relations and will give impetus to regional cooperation.

The two leaders noted that for socio-economic development, it was important to eliminate the scourge of international terrorism, extremism, drug trafficking and other threats to regional and global security. It was once again resolved to collectively fight against these evils.

The two leaders agreed to work closely on the important issue of reform of the UN Security Council. The Prime Minister thanked for Tajikistan’s support for Pakistan’s request for SCO membership.

A Joint Communique was also issued on the outcome of the meeting of the President of the Republic of Tajikistan and the Prime Minister of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan.

The Prime Minister also held a meeting with the UN Secretary General on the sidelines of the Conference. He said that Pakistan being among the top contributors to the United Nations’ peacekeeping operations would continue to respond to calls for peacekeeping. Pakistan had a strong and steadfast relationship with the UN and peacekeeping was the cornerstone of its foreign policy. Pakistan had formulated its 20-point National Action Plan, adopting a policy of zero tolerance and unflinching dedication towards countering the menace of terrorism.