KARACHI: Pakistan Ambassador designated to Tajikistan Muhammad Saeed Sarwar said that Tajikistan holds huge potential for fast moving consumer goods (FMCGs), pharmaceutical products and many other products.

“Business community will have to focus on diversifying exports to Tajikistan as currently, our exports remain mostly confined to fruits, vegetables, rice and cereals etc. which is basic reason why bilateral trade remains negligeable to around $ 30 million.”

Speaking at meeting during visit to Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) he said that huge range of Pakistani products being exported to Afghanistan were being re-exported to Tajikistan as Pakistani containers cannot directly move to Tajikistan and they have to go through cross shifting twice at Afghanistan and Tajikistan borders so it makes procedure very complicated and discourages bilateral trade.

President KCCI Tariq Yousuf pointed that although Tajikistan and other Central Asian States were lucrative markets for Pakistani businessmen but they were unable to reap benefits mainly due to unavailability of banking channels and lack of connectivity including direct flights and transit routes. We will also have to make efforts for improving connectivity between two countries via air and road network which, if done, would certainly give good boost to trade and investment.”

Published in The Daily National Courier, April, 14 2023

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