Pakistan, Tajikistan agree to visa-free travel for nationals

In a move to boost bilateral relations, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced that Pakistan and Tajikistan have agreed to visa-free travel between the two countries.

The premier is on a two-day official visit to Dushanbe, where he was hosted by Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon after he arrived at the Qasr-e-Millat, Tajikistan's presidential palace.

Addressing a press conference along with the Tajik President, the PM informed about the memorandums of understanding signed between representatives of both countries.

The prime minister also mentioned the agreement over strategic partnership and said, “These agreements will go a long way in furthering our brotherly ties and of course, expanding our scope of cooperation in the coming days.”

He also announced that Pakistan and Tajikistan exempted official passports from visa requirements.

PM Shehbaz expressed the hope of joint action efforts from Tajikistan to combat terrorism in Pakistan.

"We pulled off uprooting terrorism from the country in 2017. However, the menace is resurging now, unfortunately," he said.

“The region can’t proper without peace,” Premier Shehbaz added.

PM Shehbaz highlighted the challenges the world was dealing with in the face of war between Ukraine and Russia, and ongoing genocide in Gaza, where at least 39,000 Palestinians were killed by Israel. 

“It is genocide, and Pakistan has condemned this genocide in strongest terms,” said the PM.

“Pakistan also deeply condemned what was happening in Indian-occupied Kashmir.”

PM Shehbaz also invited Tajikistan’s investment in different sectors of Pakistan, improving regional connectivity and linkages between the people of the two countries.