ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday emphasized continued engagement between the parliamentarians in his country with their counterparts in Tajikistan, highlighting their role in bringing the people of the two countries together in a meeting with the chairman of the lower house of Tajik parliament in Dushanbe.
The prime minister arrived in the Central Asian state on an official visit a day earlier on his way to Kazakhstan where he is scheduled to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit.
The visit comes at a time when Pakistan is actively trying to enhance its role as a pivotal trade and transit hub connecting the landlocked Central Asian states with the rest of the world by offering them access to its ports on the Arabian Sea.
The prime minister also highlighted the “unlimited potential” for foreign investment in Pakistan’s key economic sectors while holding a meeting with Tajikistan President Emomali Rahmon after arriving in Dushanbe.
“Chairman of the Majlisi Namoyandagon (Lower House) of Majlisi Oli (Tajik Parliament) of the Republic of Tajikistan Mr. Zokirzoda Mahmadtoir Zoir called on Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif in Dushanbe, today,” said a statement released by the PM Office, adding the two leaders exchanged views on the current state of bilateral relations.
They expressed satisfaction at the inter-parliamentary cooperation between both countries and agreed to strengthen the already constituted Parliamentary Friendship Groups to further deepen bilateral ties.
“The Prime Minister emphasized that parliamentarians play a significant role in bringing the people of the two countries closer and strongly advocated for their sustained interaction and engagement,” the statement added.
Sharif also congratulated the Tajik official on the upcoming 30th anniversary of the constitution of his country.
The prime minister will conclude his two-day visit to Tajikistan before leaving for Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan, to attend the SCO summit.
Pakistan PM advocates for stronger parliamentary bonds with Tajikistan for closer bilateral relations
https://arab.news/4gv7n
Pakistan PM advocates for stronger parliamentary bonds with Tajikistan for closer bilateral relations
- Shehbaz Sharif discusses the current state of bilateral ties with the chairman of the lower house of Tajik parliament in Dushanbe
- Pakistan and Tajikistan have constituted Parliamentary Friendship Groups which the two leaders said must be strengthened further
Pakistan improves water management but remains highly vulnerable to floods, shortages — report
- Asian Water Development Outlook says national water security score up 6.4 points since 2013 but service delivery still weak
- ADB-linked report warns that groundwater dependence, urban demand and ecosystem decline remain critical risks
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has strengthened its water governance and planning capacity over the past decade but continues to face serious risk from climate shocks, declining freshwater availability and weak service provision, according to the Asian Water Development Outlook 2025.
The regional water security assessment linked to the Asian Development Bank evaluates countries across Asia on water supply, governance, climate resilience, urban systems and environmental health.
The study found that Pakistan has made policy progress since 2013, yet implementation remains inconsistent and the country is still exposed to extreme weather events, rapid population growth and stressed aquifers. The assessment warns that improvement has not kept pace with risk.
“Pakistan’s national water security score improved moderately from 2013 to 2025 by 6.4 points. At the same time, water governance performance, measured through SDG 6.5.1, rose from 50 percent in 2017 to 63 percent in 2023,” the report said.
Despite these gains, rural supply and service reliability remain uneven.
“Pakistan’s rural household water security remains under pressure due to ineffective service models, limited surveillance, and persistent contamination,” while economic performance is hampered by “falling per capita water availability, insufficient storage, and heavy reliance on poorly monitored groundwater resources for industrial activity,” according to the report.
Pakistan’s cities remain under pressure, with infrastructure struggling to match population growth and demand:
“Urban water security has shown only modest gains, with rising demand, untreated wastewater and urban flooding straining infrastructure and service delivery.”
Environmental conditions have also deteriorated, driven by unchecked industrial discharge and limited regulatory enforcement.
“Environmental water security has declined slightly, as rapid population growth, industrial activity, and untreated wastewater continue to degrade aquatic ecosystems,” the report added.
Pakistan remains highly exposed to disasters including major floods, droughts and glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs). The report cites the 2022 monsoon crisis, noting that it “affected over 24 million people.”
While early-warning systems are improving, infrastructure investment and coordinated management remain inadequate.
The document concludes that Pakistan must convert policy gains into ground-level delivery by expanding financing, strengthening provincial coordination and scaling ecosystem protection to stabilize long-term water security.
