Pak, Tajikistan to start direct flights next month

Pakistan and Tajikistan are going to start direct flights next month ahead of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's visit to Dushanbe for inaugurating the Central Asia-South Asia 1,000 power import project.

The flights, beginning from May 6, are aimed at improving and strengthening bilateral trade and economic relations between the two countries, reports Dawn.

Tajikistan allows workforce hiring from Pakistan.

Tajikistan would be the first among Central Asian states to commence direct flights to Pakistan.

About 100 passengers go to Tajikistan via indirect flights and land routes through Afghanistan every month.

The first flight is scheduled to depart from Lahore to Dushanbe. There will be two flights per week on this route.

An official of the Tajik embassy said that Lahore to Dushanbe would be the first phase, adding direct flights would be operated from Karachi to Dushanbe in the second phase.

Tajik Ambassador Jononov Sherali said that direct flights would increase economic ties and people-to-people contact between the two countries.

Comparing the cost of direct and indirect flights, Jononov said that an indirect flight costs Rs. 1,20,000 while the direct flight will cost only Rs. 35,000.

At present, no direct flights are operated between Pakistan and Russia.

Pakistan and Tajikistan are actively working on increasing the ground and air links as they are keen on boosting the bilateral trade and economic relations.

During his visit to Islamabad in November last year, Tajik President Emomali Rahmon had stressed the need for enhancing people-to-people contacts between the two countries.

Prime Minister Sharif and President Rahmon also held one-on-one meeting and discussed ways to further strengthen bilateral relations in diverse fields.

Bilateral trade has steadily risen from $15 million dollars in 2011 to 89 million dollars in 2014.