Pakistan and Tajikistan have agreed to introduce a quarterly data-sharing mechanism to resolve discrepancies in bilateral trade statistics, officials said following the third session of the Pakistan–Tajikistan Joint Working Group (JWG) on Trade, Investment, and Transport, held virtually on March 17 after a four-year hiatus.
During the session, officials reviewed trade figures and identified notable differences in reported volumes. Pakistan placed bilateral trade at $29 million for fiscal year 2024–25, while Tajikistan recorded $43.02 million for the 2025 calendar year, reflecting a $15 million decline from its previous year’s data. Both sides agreed that improved transparency and harmonized reporting methodologies were necessary to bridge the gap.
Discussions also addressed progress on a proposed Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA). Pakistan noted that draft texts had already been shared following earlier engagements in Dushanbe and Islamabad, but a formal response remains pending. Tajikistan said fiscal constraints and concerns about potential revenue losses currently limit its ability to proceed, proposing instead the development of a mid-term roadmap for trade and economic cooperation as a preparatory step toward future PTA negotiations.
On regional connectivity, the two countries reviewed plans to operationalize the Pakistan–China–Tajikistan Road Transport Corridor and discussed Tajikistan’s accession to the Quadrilateral Agreement on Transit Transport (QTTA) framework. Tajik officials indicated that further clarification on unified customs procedures was required before formal confirmation, while both sides agreed to prioritize integration into the existing QTTA arrangement rather than pursuing a new trilateral structure with China in the near term.
Industrial collaboration emerged as another key agenda item, with both countries exploring potential joint ventures in pharmaceuticals and textiles. Tajikistan offered to share incentive details for Pakistani investors operating in the Panj Poyn Free Economic Zone and expressed interest in establishing a joint agro-logistics center in locations such as Murghab or Panj Poyn.
Officials also pledged to facilitate trade in agricultural commodities including honey, dried fruits, cotton, and vegetables, alongside advancing digital cooperation through the planned linkage of Pakistan’s Single Window system with Tajikistan’s customs infrastructure. The meeting concluded with both sides agreeing to hold JWG sessions on a regular basis to strengthen bilateral trade and ensure implementation of agreed measures.
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