ISLAMABAD, MAR 28 (DNA) — President of Pakistan Dr Arif Alvi has called for the expansion of trade and economic relations with Tajikistan, adding that steps should be taken to enhance trade and investment cooperation with Tajikistan for the mutual development of the two brotherly countries.

The President stated this while talking to Pakistan’s Ambassador-designate to Tajikistan, Mr Muhammad Saeed Sarwar, who called on him, at Aiwan-e-Sadr, on Tuesday.

Talking to the Ambassador, the President mentioned that Pakistan had deep historical and cultural linkages with Tajikistan, stating that Pakistan wanted to build enhanced, result-oriented and sustainable engagements with all the Central Asian States under its “Vision Central Asia” policy. He underscored that Pakistan remained committed to strengthening political, economic and energy connectivity with Central Asia and that the CASA-1000 energy project was an important component of this strategy.

The President asked the Ambassador to work for improving Pakistan’s image, besides expanding trade, energy, and commercial relations with the host country. He underlined the need for establishing academic linkages between the educational institutions of both countries. He added that Pakistan was offering online and distance education through the Virtual University of Pakistan and Allama Iqbal Open University, and Tajik students could benefit from it by getting access to their educational content.

The President also stressed the need for highlighting the anti-minority and anti-Muslim policies of India as well as the atrocities being committed by the Indian Security Forces in the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK).

The President congratulated Mr Muhammad Saeed Sarwar on his appointment as Pakistan’s Ambassador to Tajikistan and urged him to work for further cementing bilateral relations with the brotherly country of Tajikistan. — DNA