ISLAMABAD
Finance Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar and his Afghan counterpart Hazrat Omar Zakhilwal had a telephone conversation on Sunday and discussed economic cooperation between Pakistan and Afghanistan.
Omar Zakhilwal, who is also Economic Advisor to the Afghan President, made the phone call to the minister acknowledging efforts for furtherance of Pak-Afghan economic cooperation, particularly in the backdrop of the Afghan President’s visit to Pakistan and the APTTCA on 1st and 2nd January in Islamabad. He also conveyed President Ashraf Ghani’s appreciation and warm regards to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, said a press release.
The finance minister said that Pakistan attached high priority to realization of peace and economic development in the brotherly country and the economic projects it had undertaken to epitomize the present government’s due care for the Afghan brethren. He said senior officials in all ministries concerned had been assigned the task to ensure implementation of decisions taken during the Afghan President’s visit. Considerable progress, as also acknowledged by Zakhilwal, had been made for transit trade facilitation, Dar added.
The minister made special mention of the Torkham-Jalalabad Highway for which funds had already been released. He added that Rehman Baba School boys hostel would be completed by May this year.
Ishaq Dar reiterated Pakistan government’s resolve to develop a strong partnership with Afghanistan with increased road-railways connectivity and emphasis on energy projects. He specially referred to CASA-1000, TAPI and other investment ventures. He said he eagerly looked forward to Afghan government’s response on Afpak-PTA and draft Trilateral Agreement on Transit Trade between Afghanistan, Pakistan and Tajikistan.
Concluding the conversation, Zakhilwal remarked, “We are grateful for your personal kind attention to issues that are proving important in strengthening the relationship between our two brotherly countries. The President conveyed his warmest regards and appreciation as well”. Zakhilwal specially lauded the progress made in facilitation of Transit Trade.