ISLAMABAD - President Asif Ali Zardari has said that Pakistan and Tajikistan need to work closely on infrastructure, energy connectivity and trans-regional economic cooperation projects such as CASA-1000.
This he said during his meeting with the Ambassador of the Republic of Tajikistan to Pakistan Zubaydullo N. Zubaydov here at Aiwan-e-Sadr on Thursday. Bilateral relations between the two countries and the progress on various mutually agreed projects were discussed during the meeting.
The President thanked President Emomali Rahmon for extending invitation to attend the Navroz festival in Dushanbe.
He said that Pakistan attaches high importance to further strengthen its close fraternal relations and partnership with Tajikistan. He said that the two countries being important regional players need to enhance consultation and coordination to promote peace and stability in the region.
The President also emphasised upon the need to focus on enhancing bilateral trade volume which was showing upward positive trend yet was far below its potential. 
He said that Pakistani ports provide the shortest access to the Tajik goods and Pakistan was ready to provide access to Tajikistan to Gwadar Port for its international trade. He said that Afghanistan-Pakistan Transit Trade Agreement has added opportunities for trade linkages between the two countries.
Pakistan, the President said, was willing to discuss conclusion of a Trilateral Transit Trade Agreement to facilitate transit of goods to and from Tajikistan.
The President also underscored the need for the two countries to explore possibilities of Preferential Trade Arrangements and to operationalise ECO Trade Agreement (ECOTA). Tajik Ambassador thanked the President for meeting and said that Tajikistan was also eager to enhance multi-faceted partnership with Pakistan for the mutual benefit of the two countries.