ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Tajikistan on Friday agreed to enhance cooperation in land-based connectivity, Pakistani state media reported, amid Pakistan’s efforts to consolidate its role as a pivotal trade and transit hub connecting the landlocked Central Asian states with the rest of the world.
The understanding was reached at a meeting between Tajikistan Energy Minister Juma Daler Shofaqir and Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Islamabad, according to Pakistan’s APP news agency.
Shofaqir is visiting Pakistan to participate in the Pakistan-Tajikistan Joint Commission. The prime minister welcomed him and expressed satisfaction with the progress made in bilateral cooperation between the two countries in various sectors.
“Both sides agreed to further promote cooperation in sectors such as communications, particularly land-based connectivity, energy, education, and agriculture,” the APP reported.
The development came a day after Pakistan and Tajikistan signed two memorandums of understanding (MoUs) at the seventh session of the Pakistan-Tajikistan Joint Commission held in Islamabad this week, according to Pakistani state media.
The first MoU forges a “historic partnership” between Pakistan’s northwestern province of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Tajikistan’s Khatlon province, paving the way for enhanced cooperation and mutual development. A second MoU has been signed between the Pakistani and Tajik football federations.
PM Sharif expressed satisfaction over the MoUs reached during the Tajik energy minister’s visit to Pakistan and emphasized that timely implementation of these agreements would further strengthen bilateral relations.
“The Tajik minister thanked the prime minister for the warm welcome and hospitality and emphasized the importance of enhancing relations and cooperation between the two countries,” the APP report read.
There has been a flurry of visits, investment talks and economic activity between officials from Pakistan and the Central Asian nations in recent weeks. Tajikistan is Pakistan’s closest neighbor in Central Asia with a narrow strip of 14km through the Wakhan corridor separating the two countries.
On Wednesday, speaking at the Joint Commission in Islamabad along with Shofaqir, Pakistan’s Power Minister Sardar Awais Leghari said both nations needed to explore “new avenues of cooperation” in commercial and economic fields.
“I’m pleased to note that both sides have agreed to create a joint coordination committee on transit trade under the Tajikistan-Pakistan trade transit agreement, which will play a pivotal role in addressing operational challenges and ensuring the smooth implementation of transit trade provisions,” Leghari said.
He hoped deliberations of the joint commission would aid in preparing “concrete” recommendations to advance further growth in the fields of trade, energy, agriculture and education as well as the industrial sector.
Pakistan, Tajikistan agree to promote land-based connectivity at Islamabad meeting
https://arab.news/z3gw3
Pakistan, Tajikistan agree to promote land-based connectivity at Islamabad meeting
- The development comes amid Pakistan’s efforts to consolidate its role as a trade and transit hub for landlocked Central Asian republics
- On Wednesday, Pakistan’s power minister said both nations needed to explore ‘new avenues of cooperation’ in commercial and economic fields
Pakistan top court appoints senior lawyer to inspect Imran Khan’s jail conditions
- Top court names ‘friend of the court’ amid renewed concerns over ex-PM’s health
- Move follows dispute over jail access to Khan, questions over his treatment in custody
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Supreme Court on Tuesday appointed a senior lawyer as a “friend of the court” to visit jailed former prime minister Imran Khan and submit a report on his current living conditions, following renewed concerns raised by his family and party about his health and treatment in prison.
The decision came a day after the court declined a request by Latif Khosa, a lawyer affiliated with Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, to meet the former premier without prior notice to the government. The court later issued a notice to the government and resumed hearings on the matter on Tuesday.
According to a copy of the court order seen by Arab News, the Supreme Court appointed Barrister Salman Safdar, Advocate Supreme Court, to carry out the inspection.
“Barrister Salman Safdar, ASC, is appointed as a friend of the Court to visit the petitioner at the Central Prison, Rawalpindi today and submit a written report regarding the ‘living conditions of the petitioner in jail,’” the order said.
The court noted that a report on Khan’s prison conditions had already been submitted in response to an earlier order, but that it related to his detention in 2023 at Attock jail and did not reflect his current incarceration.
“In this regard, a report regarding the present living conditions of the petitioner shall be submitted,” the order said.
The attorney general assured the court that Safdar would be granted full access to meet Khan and inspect his detention conditions.
“Barrister Salman Safdar, ASC, shall be provided full access to meet the petitioner and inspect his living conditions,” the order added, directing that the report be submitted by Wednesday.
Speaking to reporters after the hearing, Safdar, who has represented Khan in the past, said the court had entrusted him with an independent responsibility.
“The court has assigned me a duty as a friend of the court, which we refer to as amicus, in which the court places its trust and confidence in you,” he said.
He added that he would visit Khan at 2pm on Tuesday at Rawalpindi’s Adiala Prison.
Khan, who was removed from office through a parliamentary vote of no confidence in April 2022, has been in custody since August 2023 in a series of cases that he and his party say are politically motivated, an allegation the government denies.
Concerns over Khan’s health resurfaced last month after the government confirmed that he had been briefly taken from prison to a hospital in Islamabad for an eye procedure. Authorities said his condition was stable, while PTI leaders said they were not informed in advance and demanded greater transparency.
Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi, have been convicted in multiple corruption cases. In January 2025, an accountability court sentenced Khan to 14 years in prison in the Al-Qadir Trust land corruption case. In December 2025, a special court handed Khan and Bibi 17-year sentences each in the Toshakhana-2 case involving alleged misuse of state gifts. Appeals in both cases are ongoing.
Khan insists all cases are political motivated and aimed at keeping him and his party out of power. The government rejects the allegation.
