ISLAMABAD:Addressing the seminar,National Security Advisor Lieutenant General (Retd.) Nasser Khan Janjua has said that Pakistan can become massive trade corridor for Central Asian Republics due to cultural and historical commonalities.
He said Pakistan intends to have deepened relations with Central Asia. He said the biggest challenge in this connection is that the great power rivalries are being aggravated in the region. Afghanistan in the future will be used to checkmate the Central Asian Republics.
Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua said that the Afghan War had negative impacts on the entire region including bringing drugs and weapons, it also fueled extremism and terrorism.
She said new era of regional integration had begun and China Pakistan Economic Corridor is a hope for the region. Turning to geo-political situation, Tehmina Janjua said emerging multipolar World is a reality.
Director, Center for Strategic Studies, Tajikistan Dr. Khudoberdi Kholiqnazar in his speech emphasized the importance to promote the formation of economic corridors and creating opportunities for business, tourism and other socio-economic activities. Director, Center for Strategic Studies, Tajikistan Dr. Khudoberdi Kholiqnazar in his speech emphasized the importance to promote the formation of economic corridors and creating opportunities for business, tourism and other socio-economic activities. He further said security is a priority for his country and it is also important to intensify foreign economic cooperation.
Former Vice Prime Minister of Uzbekistan Ikramov Adkham Ilkhamovich in his address said Uzbekistan is one of the top 10 economic reformers. He proposed many industries in which Uzbekistan can collaborate with Pakistan including industries of Oil and Gas industry, chemical, pharmacuticals, food industry, electronic industry and tourism.
Chief Research Fellow, Kazakhstan Institute for Strategic Studies Irina Chernykh said intra-industry trade must be promoted in the region to explore the untapped potentials of the region.
Deputy Director, National Institute of Strategic Studies of the Kyrgyz Republic Baidoletov Nuradil Esenbekovich said joint projects in education will allow our young generation to receive quality education both in the Kyrgyz Republic and in Pakistan. He said there is need to promote the cultural exchanges for mutual understanding through a regional common project in tourism which will provide Pakistan and CARs the opportunities to interact with each other.
Deputy Minister of Finance and Economy of Turkmenistan Merdan Bayramdurdyyev said Turkmenistan is emerging as a gateway between the South and Central Asian nations and is working with Pakistan on developing economic and transit trade corridors.
Former Federal Finance Minister and Presently Advisor to the Chairman, Silk Bank Shaukat Tarin said Pakistan has undergone a massive transformation since the early 1990s and can assist Central Asian Republics in achieving similar transformations.
Secretary National Security Division Syed Iftikhar Hussain Babardeliberated on the strengths and potentials of Pakistan that it can offer to the Central Asia. APP/AFP