Daily Times, Pakistan

Pakistan and Tajikistan to sign trade agreement

19 December 2005

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Tajikistan will enter a preferential trade agreement (PTA) soon and Islamabad has already sent proposals to Dushanbe, sources said on Sunday.

Sources said that Pakistan had reminded Tajikistan to finalise a draft PTA soon. “The agreement will increase bilateral trade between the two countries,” they said. Both countries will hold talks to finalise the PTA after Islamabad receives a response from Tajikistan, they added.

An analyst said that improved trade relations between Pakistan and Tajikistan would allow the South Asian nation to establish itself as a gateway for Central Asian trade and commerce. “The agreement will give Pakistan a tremendous source of revenue and also provide Tajikistan an opportunity to boost exports,” he said. The two countries have announced they will set up working groups on countering regional terrorism and regional stability. The countries have also agreed to focus on visa facilitation, avoiding double taxation, combating drug trafficking, improving education, judiciary, tourism and cooperation between official news agencies.