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ISLAMABAD (July 25 2010): Pakistan is preparing the modalities to join six-member Shanghai Co-operation Organisation (SCO) to boost economic and trade relation with Central Asian States. At present, Pakistan has a status of observer in SCO. This matter had come under discussion with Government of Tajikistan during a recent visit of State Minister/Chairman of Board of Investment Saleem H Mandviwalla to Tajikistan.
Pakistan sought Tajikistan's support to gain the status of member country. This was confirmed by chairman BoI during an exclusive talk with Business Recorder. He was optimistic when he said that government wanted to complete its homework before starting negotiations for membership and this had been discussed with the Government of Tajikistan.
Earlier, Ambassador of Tajikistan to Pakistan Dr Zubaydullo N Zubaydov in an exclusive interview to Business Recorder contended that in the past, SCO had no mechanism to enlarge membership to those countries with an interest in joining the organisation.
However, he said, in the last SCO meeting in Tashkent, a formula had been unanimously adopted for gaining membership of organisation. Now there is a process in place on joining the SCO and hopefully Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Mongolia, India and Belarus will be declared the members of this organisation in the coming meetings, he added.
Chairman stated that signing of Afghan Transit Trade Agreement would enable Pakistan to achieve the export target. "Under legal framework of ATTA, they will be permitted to construct 12km long road to link Pakistan to Tajikistan via Afghanistan," he added. This road would provide direct and low distance access from Pakistan to Central Asian States.
Replying to another questions, Chairman BoI said that treaty with foreign countries requires a lot of homework and time. "It is not easy to ink agreement with foreign countries," he said.
In this respect, he said that government of Pakistan has been engaged with US administration since 2004. There were so many provisions put in the treaty which Pakistan considered against its interest; as a consequence of our concerns during a recent visit the US administration agreed to review the old template of the treaty. They also agreed to complete this review by the start of next year, he added.
To another question, chairman BoI replied that a decline of 39 percent in foreign direct investment in a year was due to global recession, deteriorating law and order situation and energy crises. But there has been no investment roll back by any foreign investment, he claimed. He said foreign media and travelling advisory by European countries, Dubai and other developed countries had had a negative impact on foreign flow of investment to the country.
Business Recorder [Pakistan's First Financial Daily]
Pakistan sought Tajikistan's support to gain the status of member country. This was confirmed by chairman BoI during an exclusive talk with Business Recorder. He was optimistic when he said that government wanted to complete its homework before starting negotiations for membership and this had been discussed with the Government of Tajikistan.
Earlier, Ambassador of Tajikistan to Pakistan Dr Zubaydullo N Zubaydov in an exclusive interview to Business Recorder contended that in the past, SCO had no mechanism to enlarge membership to those countries with an interest in joining the organisation.
However, he said, in the last SCO meeting in Tashkent, a formula had been unanimously adopted for gaining membership of organisation. Now there is a process in place on joining the SCO and hopefully Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Mongolia, India and Belarus will be declared the members of this organisation in the coming meetings, he added.
Chairman stated that signing of Afghan Transit Trade Agreement would enable Pakistan to achieve the export target. "Under legal framework of ATTA, they will be permitted to construct 12km long road to link Pakistan to Tajikistan via Afghanistan," he added. This road would provide direct and low distance access from Pakistan to Central Asian States.
Replying to another questions, Chairman BoI said that treaty with foreign countries requires a lot of homework and time. "It is not easy to ink agreement with foreign countries," he said.
In this respect, he said that government of Pakistan has been engaged with US administration since 2004. There were so many provisions put in the treaty which Pakistan considered against its interest; as a consequence of our concerns during a recent visit the US administration agreed to review the old template of the treaty. They also agreed to complete this review by the start of next year, he added.
To another question, chairman BoI replied that a decline of 39 percent in foreign direct investment in a year was due to global recession, deteriorating law and order situation and energy crises. But there has been no investment roll back by any foreign investment, he claimed. He said foreign media and travelling advisory by European countries, Dubai and other developed countries had had a negative impact on foreign flow of investment to the country.
Business Recorder [Pakistan's First Financial Daily]
