- Ishaq Dar chaired an inter-ministerial meeting in Islamabad on Saturday
- He will co-chair the JIC session with Turkmenistan's foreign minister
- Agenda, bilateral agreements and administrative arrangements were reviewed
- Ministries were told to coordinate closely for substantive outcomes
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar has convened a high-level meeting in Islamabad to get Pakistan ready for its next joint commission session with Turkmenistan. He will co-chair the forum with the Foreign Minister of Turkmenistan.
The inter-ministerial meeting was held on Saturday, and the Foreign Office Spokesperson shared details of it in a press release.
Discussions focused on advancing cooperation in trade, energy, regional connectivity, information technology, agriculture, textiles, healthcare, education, tourism and culture
Foreign Office Spokesperson, in a press release
What the meeting covered
Participants went through the proposed agenda for the Pakistan–Turkmenistan Joint Intergovernmental Commission (JIC). They also examined the bilateral agreements linked to the session and the administrative arrangements that will support it.
The review therefore dealt with both the substance of the forthcoming talks and the practical side of organising them.
Areas of cooperation in focus
The discussions centred on strengthening ties across a wide range of fields. These include trade, energy and regional connectivity, as well as information technology, agriculture and textiles.
Healthcare, education, tourism and culture were also on the list.
Directions to the ministries
Dar stressed the importance of the JIC as a mechanism for strengthening bilateral cooperation. He instructed the concerned ministries to work in close coordination with one another.
He also asked them to prepare thoroughly so that the session produces substantive outcomes.
Who attended
The Foreign Secretary and the Secretary of the Economic Affairs Division took part in the meeting. So did Pakistan's Ambassador to Turkmenistan.
Senior officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other concerned ministries were also present.
The JIC session will be co-chaired by Ishaq Dar and Turkmenistan's foreign minister. A date for it was not given in the details released so far.
Questions and answers
Who will co-chair the Pakistan–Turkmenistan JIC session?
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar will co-chair it with the Foreign Minister of Turkmenistan.
What did the inter-ministerial meeting review?
It reviewed the proposed agenda, bilateral agreements and administrative arrangements for the upcoming JIC session.
Which sectors are being discussed for cooperation?
The sectors include trade, energy, regional connectivity, information technology, agriculture, textiles, healthcare, education, tourism and culture.
