ISLAMABAD: Afghan envoy Janan Mosazai called on Finance Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar here on Tuesday.
The ambassador on the occasion conveyed to the Minister good wishes and compliments from the Afghan President and also communicated President’s desire for early completion of the projects that Pakistan is undertaking in Afghanistan as a goodwill gesture.
In particular, Janan Mosazai conveyed the desire of the Afghan President for the early conclusion of Jalalabad – Torkham highway which would provide for better communication between the two countries and promote trade and business activities.
The Minister said that the FWO was undertaking the Jalalabad-Torkham highway project on fast track basis and 41% physical work has been completed. Although the project was due for completion at the end of 2016, the Minister said that he would play his due role to ensure that the FWO completed the highway project by June 2016. The Afghan Envoy assured of complete facilitation in the construction of the highway.
Minister Dar further informed the Afghan envoy that more than 90% progress had been achieved in other Pakistan-funded projects and these would also be completed soon. He also thanked the Afghan President for his message of goodwill and his deep resolve to take Pak-Afghan cooperation to greater heights.
The Afghan Ambassador thanked the Minister for the meeting and for taking personal interest for the cause of promoting Pak-Afghan economic cooperation.
Secretary EAD, Tariq Bajwa and Joint Secretary, Ministry of Finance, Awais Manzur were also present in the meeting. Meanwhile, ambassador of Pakistan in USA, Jalil Abbas Jillani also called on Mohammad Ishaq Dar. They discussed follow up action on decisions taken during Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s visit to USA with particular focus on enhancing economic and trade relations between the two countries.