By Khawaja Hamza

Islamabad, Governor of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Faisal Karim Kundi met Tajikistan’s Ambassador to Pakistan, Yousuf Sharifzoda, in Islamabad to discuss bilateral cooperation, regional connectivity, energy, trade, investment, and tourism. The two sides reviewed progress on the CASA-1000 electricity transmission project, with the ambassador informing the governor that Tajikistan has completed the transmission line up to its border and that only a 13-kilometer section remains before electricity can be supplied to Pakistan’s Nowshera Grid. He requested the support of Pakistan’s Ministry of Energy and the Governor of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in resolving the remaining issues. Governor Kundi said the completion of the CASA-1000 project would help reduce electricity load shedding in Pakistan.

The meeting also focused on the proposed Wakhan Corridor, with both sides describing it as a strategically significant project that would connect Pakistan to Tajikistan through Chitral and provide Pakistan with greater access to Central Asia. Ambassador Sharifzoda said the establishment of a trade corridor through the Wakhan Border would strengthen regional connectivity and facilitate trade between Pakistan and Central Asian countries.

Governor Kundi emphasized the importance of expanding bilateral trade, saying stronger economic cooperation between Pakistan and Tajikistan is essential. He noted that enhanced tourism could further strengthen bilateral relations and contribute to economic growth in both countries. He also stressed the need to launch direct passenger and cargo flights between Peshawar and Dushanbe, stating that improved air connectivity would boost trade, investment, business links, and people-to-people exchanges.

The meeting concluded with discussions on increasing investment and tourism cooperation, while Ambassador Yousuf Sharifzoda invited Governor Faisal Karim Kundi to attend official events scheduled to be held in Dushanbe in September.