Pakistan textile sector pin high hopes on Tajikistan-Texglobe

Islamabad: Central Chairman All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APTMA) Mohsin Aziz has said that Tajikistan has the capacity to help us overcome many problems faced by the Pakistani spinning, weaving and knitting industries.

Pakistan and Tajikistan enjoy excellent relations in areas of trade, economy, defence, education, investment, energy and human resource development and our visit will help cement times and augment trade, he said.

Mohsin Aziz said this while talking to Dr. Murtaza Mughal, President of the Pakistan Economy Watch before leaving for Dushanbe on the special invitation of President of Tajikistan.

The delegation include Ambassador of Tajikistan Dr. Zubaydullo N. Zubaydov, former president APTMA Gohar Ejaz, Akbar Seth, Central Vice Chairman, Ahsan Bashir, Chairman Punjab Region, Yasin Siddike, Chairman Sindh-Balochistan Region and Suhail Tabba, Chairman APTMA Committee of WTO and Market Access.

Mohsin Aziz said that during the visit we will seek enhanced cooperation in the fields of textiles, cement, and energy.

He said that Tajikistan, landlocked by Kyrgyzstan, Afghanistan, Uzbekistan and China, exports over 90 thousand tonnes of cotton to 18 countries including Russia, Iran, Turkey and Latvia, and desires to become its major trading partner.

He said that Central Asia South Asia (CASA) 1000 power project which is supported by the US administration and the World Bank can be of great help to energy starved Pakistan.

The APTMA Chairman said that Tajikistan exports cotton, aluminum, fresh and dry fruits to Pakistan but we are eager to get energy without which economy will cripple.

The central Asian state has traditionally been a major importer of grain, food products and petrochemicals from Kazakhstan, Russia, Poland, Ukraine and Georgia.

Mohsin Aziz said there is a direct flight between Islamabad and Dushanbe while increasing number of flights will help boost trade and tourism.

At the occasion, Dr. Murtaza Mughal said that business community of the two countries should have more opportunities to directly interact with each other without involving any third party.

This will help boost bilateral trade; he said adding that energy shortages have a very significant impact on textile industry while floods have raised questions about availability of cotton.

Tajikistan can help Pakistan in the said issues in an effective manner, said Dr. Mughal

Government cannot afford to ignore the issues of a sector which is largest foreign exchange earner and largest urban employment provider, he said.

The Ambassador said that he is striving hard to boost times between brotherly countries. He said that Pakistani businessmen can have visa for his country as early as possible.

I feel like at home in Pakistan and I respect their social values, said Zubaydov.