Islamabad, 23 August 2011:  A delegation comprising of ambassadors Central Asian countries called on President Asif Ali Zardari at Aiwan-e-Sadr today.

 

Those who were present during the meeting included Afghan Ambassador Mr. Mohammad Umer Daudzai, Ambassador of Azerbaijan Mr. Dashgin Mazi Oglu Shikarv, Kazakh Ambassador Mr. Bakhitbek Shabarbayed, Kyrgyz Ambassador Mr. Orozov Alik Karybaevich, Tajik Ambassador Mr. Zbaydullo Zubaydov, Turkmen Ambassador Mr. Berdiniyazov Sapar and Uzbek Ambassador Oybek A. Usmanov.

 

Defence Minister Ch. Ahmed Mukhtar, Water & Power Minister Syed Naveed Qamar, Petroleum Minister Dr. Asim Hussain, Senator Babar Awan, and other senior officials were also present during the meeting besides Spokesperson to the President Mr. Farhatullah Babar.

 

Briefing  media Spokesperson to the President Mr. Farhatullah Babar said that matters concerning mutual relations, peace and stability of the region, need for evolving regional solutions for the regional problems, promoting connectivity in the region and encouraging trade and economic activities were discussed during the meeting.

 

Mr. Babar said that the President emphasized upon the need of taking advantage of the geographical proximity and forging a mutual partnership that could provide solution to the present issues confronting the states of the region. He said that all our countries have rich cultural heritage that we need to share and pass on to our next generation.  The President said that peace and stability was a common challenge of our region and we need to find regional solutions to our regional problems taking advantage shared cultural heritage and geographical proximity.

 

The President during the meeting underscored the need to focus on economic development and regional security of the region saying that peace and stability in Afghanistan holds key to this end. The President said that Pakistan supports every effort intended towards peace and stability of Afghanistan.  He said that we support Afghan led peace and reconciliation process and would provide all possible help to promote enduring peace and finding permanent solutions to the present issues and challenges. Pakistan was working closely with the Afghan Government and other regional and international partners in this regard, he added.

 

 

The President emphasized need for economic development of the region. For economic development, he said, we need to focus on regional integration and utilizing all available trade avenues including the transit trade agreements to promote mutual trade and boost business activities.

 

The President said that we need to improve our economic and commercial relations by organizing business forum and launching joint ventures in various areas of mutual interest. Also, we need to gear up implantation of decisions taken on the platform of Joint Economic Forum, he added.

 

The President said that by improving connectivity and modes of communications, the countries of the region can enhance their trade and economic activities significantly. He said that Pakistan due to its geo-strategic location offers shortest access to Afghanistan and Central Asian countries at Gwadar and Karachi seaports.

 

The President said that there was also a need for early implementation of projects that focus on meeting the energy requirements of the countries that were facing severe energy shortages. He said that early implementation of projects of electricity transmission lines and gas pipelines would boost the productions in these countries thus promoting economic activities and creating more jobs for the people.

 

The President also called upon enhancing mutual cooperation in security and defence paradigm and further strengthening all channels and mechanism to address the issues of drug and human trafficking.

 

Matters concerning further extending mutual cooperation in training programs for bankers, diplomats, business professionals, armed forces and law enforcing personnel were also discussed during the meeting.

 

Later the Ambassadors attended Iftar-Dinner hosted by the President for the Ambassadors of the Muslim countries.