Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi met with Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Ministers of Turkmenistan H.E. Mr. Rashid Meredov today. The latter has visited Pakistan to attend a meeting of Pakistan – Turkmenistan Joint Ministerial Commission. The meeting was also attended by Ambassador of Turkmenistan in Islamabad H.E. Mr. Sapar Berdiniyazov.

The two sides discussed a wide range of subjects focusing especially on ways and means to strengthen bilateral relations. The Foreign Minister underlined that Pakistan being an energy deficient country could meet its requirements from the energy rich Turkmenistan. They reviewed the status of the Turkmenistan – Afghanistan – Pakistan – India (TAPI) Gas Pipeline Project, expressing the hope that work on this long-pending project would be expedited. The project would be of immense help for the economic development of this region. The Turkmen Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister informed Foreign Minister Qureshi that a meeting of the Steering Committee of the project would be held in Ashgabat next month to review the project and take further steps. Both agreed that it was a viable project and should be pursued most vigorously.

The two sides also agreed to take steps towards liberalizing the visa regime between the two countries especially in the context of promoting trade and commercial relations.

The Foreign Minister briefed his Turkmen counterpart about the flood situation and thanked Turkmenistan for its support and assistance.