• Pakistan interested in joining China-Tajikistan-Afghanistan trade corridor
• High-level committee formed to tackle monsoon-related emergencies after NDMA warning

DUSHANBE / ISLAM­ABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday emphasised the need to expand bilateral trade bet­ween Pakistan and Tajiki­stan, saying that the current trade volume does not reflect the strong relationship between the two nations.

Separately, the premier has also formed a high-level committee to handle potential emergencies during the upcoming monsoon season.

PM Shehbaz is in Dush­anbe for a two-day visit. Addressing a presser alongside President Emomali Rah­mon of Tajikis­tan, he said the two countries have signed several memoran­dums of understanding (MoUs), which he hoped wo­uld strengthen bilateral ties.

The premier assured the Tajik president that he would work closely with him to further cement the brotherly ties not only in the fields of agriculture, education, health and promotion of investment, but also in expansion of bilateral trade.

Rail-road project

He underlined how both countries needed to work closely and fix targets to increase bilateral trade and investment, citing transportation of goods from Karachi port to Tajikistan via Afghanistan and then from Dushanbe to Karachi port via Afghanistan through a rail-road project.

He said Pakistan would be keen to be a part of China-Tajikistan-Afghanistan trade corridor project, adding that it would be another opportunity to broaden the multilateral trade in the region.

PM Shehbaz also expre­s­sed confidence that the CASA-1000 power project would be completed soon, bri­n­ging prosperity to this region.

The premier also referred to another MoU pertaining to relaxed visa requirem­ents and said that it would be helpful for both countries in further achieving their goals.

The prime minister said the two countries had been the victims of terrorism; Pakistan faced this menace for years and paid a huge price in terms of human lives and economic losses to the tune of billions of dollars.

The prime minister also offered cooperation to Tajikistan in this regard and said the two countries could fight this menace collectively wherever it existed and in any shape.

Earlier, when the prime minister arrived at the Qasr-i-Millat, the Tajik president warmly welcomed him which followed the guard of honour by the contingents of Tajik armed forces.

President Rahmon emp­h­asised brotherly relations between Paki­stan and Tajikistan. The two leaders discussed the ways to strengthen cooperation in different fields between the two countries.

PM Shehbaz invited Tajikistan’s investment in different sectors of Pakistan, improving regional connectivity and linkages between the people of the two countries.

Monsoon contingencies

A day after the the Nat­­ional Disaster Manage­ment Authority (NDMA) activated its emerge­ncy centre in anticipation of rain in northern areas and Punjab, the prime minister decided to personally supervise the response to any flood situations during the monsoon.

Chairing a review meeting to address the monsoon forecast and potential emergencies, PM Shehbaz emphasised integrating advanced monsoon information into national broadcasts, stressing the regular dissemination of weather updates to farmers.

The premier instructed all relevant institutions to remain on high alert during the monsoon and directed the NDMA to support all provincia governments.

He stressed that farmers and residents located near rivers and canals should be updated daily through the media and other information sources.

During the meeting, the NDMA provided a detailed briefing on the monsoon forecast and the areas at risk.

The forum’s members were informed that heavy monsoon rains were expected in the four provinces during the first and second weeks of July.

They were also informed that this year’s monsoon rains would move from the southeast to the north with rainfall expected in the Potohar region and the eastern part of Punjab during the first week of July.

The participants were informed that in the second week of July, there was a possibility of heavy rains in Rawalpindi, Sargodha, Gujranwala, Lahore and Faisalabad, with scattered rainfall anticipated in Bahawalpur, Multan, Sahiwal and Dera Ghazi Khan divisions.

According to the NDMA briefing, a flood situation was expected in the Sutlej, Chenab, and Ravi rivers during the first two weeks of August with preparations for relocation and emergency responses completed in the areas surrounding these rivers.

Published in Dawn, July 3rd, 2024