PR No.229 A Peaceful, Prosperous And Progressive Afghanistan Is In The Best Interest Of Pakistan And The Region Islamabad

Minister of Finance of Afghanistan Mr. Eklil Ahmad Hakimi called on Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif along with a ministerial delegation, currently visiting Pakistan for the 10th Session of Pak-Afghanistan Joint Economic Commission, at PM House today.

While welcoming the Minister and members of Afghan delegation, Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif said that Pakistan attaches great importance to its brotherly relations with Afghanistan. He further stated that as part of its vision for “Peaceful and Prosperous” neighborhood, Pakistan is ready to help Afghanistan in its quest for peace and development. Pakistan believes that a peaceful, prosperous and progressive Afghanistan is in the best interest of Pakistan and the region, the Prime Minister said.

Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif expressed his satisfaction over the positive momentum in the bilateral relations under the leadership of President Ashraf Ghani and stressed that new understanding of brotherly relations between the two countries must be sustained and further strengthened. In this regards, he stressed on the need to boost bilateral trade and economic relations. The Prime Minister stated that there is a great scope to boost our bilateral trade. In this regards, both sides should work strenuously to meet the Trade Volume target of US$ 5 Billion till 2018. Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif also expressed his satisfaction over the resumption of work by Pakistani side on incomplete projects in Afghanistan’s health, education and other sectors and said that Pakistan would extend all possible support to Afghanistan to accomplish all tasks in infrastructure development and energy sector to consolidate long term bilateral and regional partnership.

The Afghan Finance Minister thanked the Prime Minister for his special interest in peace and development of Afghanistan. He stated that President Ashraf Ghani shares the Prime Minister’s vision of economic development of the region through regional connectivity. He lauded the Prime Minister’s efforts to improve regional connectivity through rail and road links. Afghanistan, in this regard, can be the transit hub between Pakistan and the Central Asian States, he added. Referring to CASA-1000 and other connectivity projects, Mr. Hakimi stated that early realization of these projects will provide a win-win situation for all the countries of the region.

Federal Minister for Finance Senator Muhammad Ishaq Dar, Advisor to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Mr. Sartaj Aziz, Secretary to the Prime Minister Mr. Fawad Hasan Fawad and Secretary Foreign Affairs Mr. Aizaz Ahmed Chaudhry participated in the meeting. The Afghan delegation comprised of Senior Advisor to the Afghan President Mr. Homayoun Qaumi and Ambassador of Afghanistan to Pakistan H.E. Mr. Janan Mosazai.

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