Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar reached Tajikistan's capital, Dushanbe, where he is scheduled to head Pakistan's delegation at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Council of Heads of Government meeting on October 19-20. Upon arrival, DPM Dar was received by Tajikistan's Minister of Energy and Water Resources, Daler Juma, who is also co-chair of the Pakistan-Tajikistan Joint Commission, the Foreign Office (FO) said in a statement on Monday.
Pakistan's Ambassador to Tajikistan, Irfan Ahmed, and the country's National Coordinator for the SCO, Khalil Hashmi, along with senior Tajik government officials, were also present to receive him. Besides participating in the proceedings of the meeting, DPM Dar will meet Tajikistan's leadership and his counterparts from SCO member states on the sidelines of the summit, the FO added.
Dar will lead Pakistan's delegation at the invitation of Tajikistan Prime Minister Qohir Rasulzoda. The prime ministers of Belarus, China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan, along with the vice president of Iran and India's external affairs minister, will represent their respective countries.
The Council of Heads of Government is the SCO's second-highest decision-making institution, providing guidance on economy, finance, trade, connectivity, and budgetary matters. The meeting will also adopt a joint communique and important decisions.
During his visit, Dar will call on the president and prime minister of Tajikistan. Meanwhile, DPM Dar met PM Qohir Rasulzoda to review bilateral relations, reaffirming commitment to strengthening cooperation in trade, investment, energy, defence, and culture.
The FO spokesperson noted that the Tajik premier appreciated Pakistan's mediation efforts in regional diplomatic matters. The DPM also highlighted the potential for cooperation with Tajikistan through the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA).
Pakistan and Tajikistan share a deep-rooted historical and cultural bond, which both governments are keen to translate into robust economic and trade partnerships through bilateral forums and regional platforms like the SCO. The ongoing diplomatic engagements are expected to yield further collaborative agreements and enhance regional connectivity, stability, and mutual prosperity for all participating member states.