ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Turkmenistan have agreed to enhance their collaboration in various sectors, focusing on trade diversification, finalizing a transit trade agreement, and implementing a liberal visa policy to facilitate greater business interactions.
This understanding emerged during the third round of Pakistan-Turkmenistan Bilateral Political Consultations held in Islamabad. The Pakistani delegation was led by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, while Turkmenistan’s Foreign Minister Rasit Meredow headed his country’s delegation.
At a joint press conference, Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar emphasized the comprehensive review of bilateral relations across multiple dimensions. Both nations agreed to intensify joint efforts to expand and deepen cooperation in political, economic, and defence domains. Key discussions included enhancing economic engagement in trade, investment, energy, connectivity, and information technology.
Ishaq Dar invited Turkmenistan’s companies to explore investment opportunities in Pakistan, highlighting the role of the Special Investment Facilitation Council in aiding foreign investors. He also pointed out the strategic advantages of Pakistan’s seaports, encouraging Turkmenistan’s business community to use Gwadar and Karachi ports for trade connectivity with the Middle East, Africa, and beyond.
The two sides reviewed progress on the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) gas pipeline and electricity transmission line projects, acknowledging the significant opportunities these projects present for both countries and the broader region. Dar also stressed the importance of promoting bilateral parliamentary and cultural exchanges, educational scholarships, and people-to-people contacts.
Additionally, Ishaq Dar briefed the Turkmen delegation on the human rights situation in Indian-occupied Jammu and Kashmir, reiterating that lasting peace in South Asia is contingent on the peaceful resolution of the Kashmir dispute in line with UN Security Council resolutions and the aspirations of the Kashmiri people.
Turkmenistan’s Foreign Minister Rasit Meredow reaffirmed the priority of relations with Pakistan in their foreign policy. He expressed a strong commitment to implementing projects like TAPI, power transmission lines, and Fiber Optic communication, emphasizing that these initiatives would strengthen the friendship and mutually beneficial partnership between the two nations. Meredow also highlighted the importance of maintaining active dialogue to create international transport routes, leveraging the transit potential of both countries.
