Federal Minister Science and Technology Mr. Shibli Faraz has said that Pakistan attaches great importance to its relations with Turkmenistan. The brotherly country has proposed many projects in recent years that can bring both nations closer and open the doors of development, connectivity and prosperity not only in the two countries but for the whole regions of Central Asia and South Asia.
The minister noted this while addressing a selected gathering of government officials, diplomats, business community and media persons who were present in the reception hosted by Mr. & Mrs. Atadjan Movlamov, Ambassador of Turkmenistan in connection with 30th Anniversary of Independence of Turkmenistan on 27 Sep 2021 here at Marriott Hotel Islamabad.
Federal Ombudsman Secretariat for Protection Against Harassment (FOSPAH), Kashmala Tariq was also present at this occasion.
Envoys from Central Asia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan – East Europe, Ukraine, Belarus – Europe, European Union, Germany, Bulgaria, Switzerland, Austria – Asia, Oman, Indonesia, Republic of Korea, Iran, Maldives and other countries also attended the reception. Here it is worth mentioning that Ambassador Turkmenistan is also Dean of Diplomatic Corp.
The reception was held with observation of corona SoPs.
Mr. Shibli Faraz appreciated the initiative of Permanent Neutrality and celebration of 2021 as Year of Peace and Trust by Turkmenistan and said that these are the main instruments to regional and international development and prosperity.
Minister noted that TAPI gas pipeline project will suffice the countries of the region for their energy needs. Pakistan working on this project on her side. We hope it will be completed soon.
Ambassador, in his welcome address, said that 30 years ago Turkmenistan has chosen the way of democratic, legal and secular development. In its foreign policy Turkmenistan has chosen the model, which has gained the name – Positive Neutrality. During the past period Turkmenistan has established a constructive relationship of cooperation with its neighbors and became a reliable ally and effective partner of the United Nations in the process of preserving and sustaining political stability in the region, developing good neighborly relations, friendship and cooperation.
The consistent implementation over the past historical period of the strategic course towards industrial and innovative development has ensured the economic independence of our state. Turkmenistan is carrying out a radical modernization of all sectors of the national economy to bring Turkmenistan to the level of the countries developed in political, economic, cultural and humanitarian spheres. Turkmenistan builds new cities and villages, gas lines, highways, railways and big innovative industrial production complexes.
A diversified economy has been formed in Turkmenistan, including such important sectors as the electric power, oil and gas industry, mechanical engineering, metallurgy, the chemical industry, construction, electronics, light and food industries, and pharmaceuticals. The strategic industry is the gas industry, which has natural gas production and processing sectors in its structure.
Turkmenistan and The Islamic Republic of Pakistan are connected by traditional historical ties of friendship. Pakistan is one of the important regional partners of Turkmenistan.
An excellent level of bilateral political relations has been achieved due to an active political dialogue established in a highest political level. This dialogue contributed to the preservation of the spirit of mutual understanding, support and mutually beneficial cooperation in various fields.
It is necessary to state that positions of our countries on main issues of world politics are very close. Foremost among them are issues of ensuring peace, stability, security and sustainable development.
The employment of huge energy potential of Turkmenistan is one of the promising areas of bilateral cooperation.
Today, Turkmenistan and Pakistan demonstrate the intent to use comprehensively existing resources, economic and intellectual potential that creates all prepositions for realization of big joint projects in different spheres.
Thus, the priority projects are the construction of the transnational TAPI gas pipeline, power transmission lines and fiber-optic communication on Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan route. The implementation of these important regional projects will open up new strategic directions for energy flows, give an impetus to the economic development and contribute to an improvement of the population’s standard of living in the region.
It is also important that the implementation of these projects will contribute to strengthening peace and cooperation in the region.
Transport and transit sphere is also among priority vectors of the partnership.
Motor and railways from Turkmenistan to Pakistan via Afghanistan are very promising. The shortest route to the Ocean for Turkmenistan lays through Pakistan, while Turkmenistan can be the gate to Central Asia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and other CIS countries for Pakistan.
It opens new opportunities for transport communication in Asia – Europe direction, for activation of regional and interregional trade and economic relations.
Turkmenistan and Pakistan have huge potential in different spheres. One of them is great potential for a steadily increase in trade, mutual investment and productive contacts between the private business communities of the two countries.
I would like to express the confidence that traditionally friendly and fraternal Turkmen – Pakistani relations would continue to be developed for the common sake.
Tazeen Akhtar
