Tajik Airlines to launch flights from Islamabad

ISLAMABAD Pakistan (eTN) - Tajik Airlines is starting its flight operation from Dushanbe to Islamabad from June and will operate two flights a week and will add Karachi and Lahore to its operation later on.

According to the Tajik Embassy in Pakistan, Tajikistan's Ambassador to Pakistan, Dr. Zubaydullo N. Zubaydov, is of the view that he is planning to set up a display center of Tajikistan in Karachi for introduction and promotion of Tajik products in Pakistan. He said that the display center would be a one-room trading center that would be extended further in the later stages. Moreover, tripartite negotiations between Tajikistan, Pakistan, and Afghanistan are going on for Transit Trade Agreement and construction of a road linking Pakistan with Tajikistan through Wakhan, Afghanistan.

These decisions are in connection with Pakistani President Zardari's visit to Tajikistan in March this year. President Zardari's delegation had visited Dushanbe to attend Tajikistan's 20th Independence Day celebrations and Nauroze.

Tajik’s Ambassador to Pakistan, Dr. Zubaydullo N. Zubaydov, maintained that big activities of improvement of the road network and infrastructure are going on in Tajikistan, and China has taken up construction of road network at a cost of $500 million. He said that 80 percent of the work has already been accomplished. He invited Pakistanis to visit Tajikistan for business and tourism, as well as ziarat of famous Saint Syed Ali Hamadani (RA) in Kulab. He said a number of five-star and tourist hotels, besides famous international chains of fast food restaurants, are available in Tajikistan, whereas branded chains of department stores are also being opened up. He invited opening up a Pakistani restaurant in Tajikistan and offered a business visa in this regard.

It may be mentioned that Tajikistan is losing tourism potentials because of its poor airline connectivity with South Asia, while its neighboring countries are flying from India and Pakistan daily. There are 3 flights to Tashkent from Lahore a week, 4 flights from Amritsar India to Tashkent and 3 flights from Delhi.