Pakistan has commenced the export of halal meat to Tajikistan.
The development comes as a result of the pivotal role played by Tajikistan’s Ambassador to Pakistan, Yusuf Sharifzoda Toir, in strengthening economic and trade cooperation between the two countries.
Pakistan’s Ambassador to Tajikistan, Muhammad Saeed Sarwar, shared these developments during an interactive session with an eight-member Pakistani media delegation and local business representatives at the Embassy of Pakistan in Dushanbe.
He stated that Pakistan plans to export 143,000 tons of goods worth approximately $14.5 million to Tajikistan, with halal products playing a key role in expanding bilateral trade.
Ambassador Sarwar also highlighted the strong possibility of a Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) between the two countries, emphasizing that trade liberalization would help promote regional economic integration.
He expressed optimism that bilateral trade could reach $300 million in the coming years, with active participation from the business communities of both nations.
On the issue of direct flights, the ambassador stressed the need for effective marketing strategies and the involvement of travel agents to ensure their regular operation. He noted that the resumption of direct flights would significantly boost trade, economic activities, and tourism between the two countries.
Tajikistan remains a key trade partner for Pakistan and plays an important role in regional economic integration, Ambassador Sarwar said. He added that Central Asian countries, including Tajikistan, are vital to Pakistan’s long-term economic vision, with both sides eager to deepen future trade and investment ties.
Referring to Tajikistan’s strong economic performance, the ambassador pointed to the country’s impressive annual GDP growth of around 8 percent as evidence of its rapidly expanding economy. He also noted the continuation of high-level exchanges, including the visit of Pakistan’s Prime Minister, Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, to Tajikistan in May this year.
More recently, Tajikistan’s Minister of Culture inaugurated the first-ever Tajik Cultural Week in Islamabad, reflecting growing people-to-people and cultural ties. “Pakistan and Tajikistan share deep commonalities in faith, history, culture, and literature,” Ambassador Sarwar remarked.
He further noted that Pakistan was among the first countries to recognize Tajikistan’s independence and establish diplomatic relations. The two nations, he said, enjoy strong historical, cultural, social, linguistic, and religious bonds.
The ambassador concluded by reaffirming the Embassy of Pakistan’s commitment to promoting academic and educational cooperation between the two countries.
It is worth noting that over the past 15 months, Tajikistan’s ambassador to Pakistan has actively spearheaded initiatives to enhance cultural, diplomatic, and trade relations, as well as people-to-people exchanges.
Recently, Pakistan’s Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research, Rana Tanveer Hussain, recently met with Ambassador Sharifzoda, during which both sides reaffirmed Islamabad’s commitment to enhancing collaboration in agriculture and food security. The discussions focused on expanding exports of high-quality agro-commodities and livestock products to Tajikistan.
