Finance Minister Senator Ishaq Dar met with his Afghan and Iranian counterparts and discussed economic and trade cooperation with them. The finance minister, who is heading a top-level Pakistani delegation to annual World Bank-IMF meetings, also had a ‘productive’ meeting with President of Japan International Cooperation Agency Akihiko Tanaka on economic development cooperation.
The finance minister briefed the JICA chief about the development plans of the government and appreciated Tokyo’s assistance in Pakistan’s economic development. Senator Dar discussed cooperation in coal-based projects and Karachi Circular Railway project, which was a follow-up of the meeting between the prime ministers of the two countries in New York last month, an aide to the finance minister said.
The two sides agreed on pushing forward projects like Karachi Circular Railway and also examine potential for cooperation in new projects Islamabad wants to complete on priority basis. The JICA chief expressed appreciation for the government’s fiscal and economic measures and reforms towards economic stability.
Meanwhile, in a meeting with Omar Zakhilwal, the Afghan Finance Minister, Senator Dar discussed next month’s Joint Working Group meeting in Kabul. The two finance ministers were confident that they would be able to make decisions at the meeting on issues like Jalalabad-Torkham Road, railway link up to Landi Kotal, CASA 1000 and Afghan Transit Trade
In an other meeting, Finance Minister Dar and his Iranian counterpart Ali Taiebnia, discussed local trade within the framework of international sanctions imposed on Tehran over the nuclear issue. They also discussed how Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline could be financed in view of sanctions.
The finance minister was assisted in the meetings by Secretary Finance Dr. Waqar Masood Khan, Governor State Bank Yaseen Anwar , Secretary Economic Affairs Division Ms. Nargis Sethi, and Charge d’ Affaires at the Pakistani embassy Dr. Asad Majeed Khan.
