ISLAMABAD: A delegation comprising ambassadors of the central Asian
countries called on President Asif Ali Zardari at Aiwan-e-Sadr on
Tuesday.
Those who were present during the meeting included
Afghan Ambassador Mohammad Umer Daudzai, Ambassador of Azerbaijan
Dashgin Mazi Oglu Shikarv, Kazakh Ambassador Mr. Bakhitbek Shabarbayed,
Kyrgyz Ambassador Orozov Alik Karybaevich, Tajik Ambassador Mr.
Zbaydullo Zubaydov, Turkmen Ambassador Mr. Berdiniyazov Sapar and Uzbek
Ambassador Oybek A. Usmanov.
Defence Minister Ch Ahmed Mukhtar,
Water & Power Minister Syed Naveed Qamar, Petroleum Minister Dr
Asim Hussain, Senator Babar Awan, and other senior officials were also
present during the meeting besides Spokesperson to the President Mr.
Farhatullah Babar. According to President’s spokesperson Farhatullah
Babar matters concerning mutual relations, peace and stability of the
region, need for evolving regional solutions for the regional problems,
promoting connectivity in the region and encouraging trade and economic
activities were discussed during the meeting.
Babar said that
the President emphasized upon the need of taking advantage of the
geographical proximity and forging a mutual partnership that could
provide solution to the present issues confronting the states of the
region. He said that all our countries have rich cultural heritage that
we need to share and pass on to our next generation.
The
President said that peace and stability was a common challenge of our
region and we need to find regional solutions to our regional problems
taking advantage shared cultural heritage and geographical proximity.
The
President during the meeting underscored the need to focus on economic
development and regional security of the region saying that peace and
stability in Afghanistan holds key to this end. The President said that
Pakistan supports every effort intended towards peace and stability of
Afghanistan. He said that we support Afghan led peace and
reconciliation process and would provide all possible help to promote
enduring peace and finding permanent solutions to the present issues
and challenges. Pakistan was working closely with the Afghan Government
and other regional and international partners in this regard, he added.
The President emphasized need for economic development of the
region. For economic development, he said, we need to focus on regional
integration and utilizing all available trade avenues including the
transit trade agreements to promote mutual trade and boost business
activities. The President said that we need to improve our economic and
commercial relations by organizing business forum and launching joint
ventures in various areas of mutual interest. Also, we need to gear up
implantation of decisions taken on the platform of Joint Economic
Forum, he added. The President said that by improving connectivity and
modes of communications, the countries of the region can enhance their
trade and economic activities significantly. He said that Pakistan due
to its geo-strategic location offers shortest access to Afghanistan and
Central Asian countries at Gwadar and Karachi seaports.
The
President said that there was also a need for early implementation of
projects that focus on meeting the energy requirements of the countries
that were facing severe energy shortages. He said that early
implementation of projects of electricity transmission lines and gas
pipelines would boost the productions in these countries thus promoting
economic activities and creating more jobs for the people.
The
President also called upon enhancing mutual cooperation in security and
defence paradigm and further strengthening all channels and mechanism
to address the issues of drug and human trafficking.
Matters
concerning further extending mutual cooperation in training programs
for bankers, diplomats, business professionals, armed forces and law
enforcing personnel were also discussed during the meeting. Later the
Ambassadors attended Iftar-Dinner hosted by the President for the
Ambassadors of the Muslim countries. Online
