Pakistan and Tajikistan agrees on early implementation of electricity project

[News_Editor]

Pakistan and Tajikistan agrees on early implementation of electricity project

2011-03-08 01:22:18 GMT+7 (ICT)

ISLAMABAD, PAKISTAN (BNO NEWS) -- Pakistan and Tajikistan on Monday agreed on improving ties and the early implementation of the Central Asia South Asia (CASA-1000) electricity project.

According to the state-run APP news agency, Tajik President Emomali Rahmon arrived to Islamabad on Monday and met with his Pakistani counterpart President Asif Ali Zardari.

The two leaders held a lengthy discussion on bilateral, regional as well international issues of mutual interest. Zardari and Rahmon agreed on improving relations in trade, investment, communication and energy.

In addition, the two presidents agreed to implement the CASA-1000 project earlier. The project is a regional effort to construct high voltage electricity transmission lines for electricity exports from Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan to Pakistan via Afghanistan.

"Pakistan and Tajikistan enjoy close brotherly and historic relations, with the two sharing common culture, faith and traditions," said Zardari. "Pakistan gives great importance to its relations with Tajikistan."

President Zardari added that the discussions focused on peace and stability of the region, strengthening economic cooperation, developing energy connectivity, eliminating the menace of terrorism and curbing drug trafficking.

The two countries are expected to sign a number of bilateral agreements as Rahmon will meet with Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani on Tuesday. It is expected that Pakistan will facilitate transit trade of Tajikistan through its ports.

President Rahmon arrived to Islamabad on Monday morning to begin a three-day official visit in the Asian country. Tajikistan is considered a key player to deter drug trafficking from Afghanistan.

In December, the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) said that Tajikistan is first line of defense to disrupt the flow of drugs from Afghanistan which poses a serious threat to security and development throughout Central Asia.

It is estimated that approximately 15 percent of all Afghan opiates and 20 percent of heroin is trafficked through Tajikistan. UNODC helped establishing a national Drug Control Agency and through it Tajikistan has dealt with 900 drug-related cases and seized around 10 tons of narcotics in the last eleven years.

-- © BNO News All rights reserved 2011-03-08