Prime Minister Imran Khan arrived in Tajikistan’s capital Dushanbe on Thursday, where he will represent the country at 20th Shanghai Cooperation Organization Council of Heads of State (SCO-CHS) Summit.

Tajik Prime Minister Kokhir Rasulzoda received the prime minister at Dushanbe International Airport.

A high-level ministerial delegation including Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Minister for Information and Broadcasting Chaudhry Fawad Hussain, Minister for Maritime Affairs Syed Ali Haider Zaidi, Commerce Advisor Abdul Razak Dawood, and National Security Adviser Dr Moeed Yusuf accompanied the prime minister.

The visit of PM Imran Khan is taking place at the invitation of Tajik President Emomali Rahmon on September 16-17.

This is the third visit of the prime minister to Central Asia, underlining Pakistan’s enhanced engagement with the region.

In a tweet, the Prime Minister Office said: "The prime minister ... was accorded a red carpet welcome at Dushanbe International Airport, Tajikistan."

Chaudhry Fawad giving details about the visit said it would prove a milestone in line with the government’s Vision Central Asia, aimed at promoting regional connectivity.

He said the prime minister would not only present Pakistan’s stance at the SCO platform, but would also meet several leaders of the region on the sidelines.

PM Imran Khan has earlier participated in SCO-CHS held in Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic on 13-14 June 2019 and SCO-CHS hosted by Russia on 10 November 2020 through video-conference.

The SCO, an eight-member permanent inter-governmental trans-regional Organization, was established in Shanghai on June 15, 2001. Pakistan became an SCO Observer in 2005 and a full member in June 2017 during Astana SCO-CHS Summit. Russia, China, India, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic and Tajikistan are other SCO members.

The SCO also has four Observer states (Iran, Mongolia, Belarus and Afghanistan) and six Dialogue Partners (Azerbaijan, Armenia, Cambodia, Nepal, Turkey and Sri Lanka).

The prime minister will hold bilateral meetings with other participating leaders on the sidelines.

“His talks with Tajik President will cover the entire gamut of bilateral relations, especially enhancing trade, economic and investment ties with a particular focus on regional connectivity,” the Foreign Office said.

The two countries have earlier expressed strong commitment to enter into a formal strategic partnership.

The prime minister will inaugurate the first meeting of Pakistan-Tajikistan Business Forum for which a group of Pakistani businessmen is also visiting Dushanbe.

“The Joint Business Forum will catalyze growing trade and investment relations and promote business to business contacts between the trading communities of both sides,” the FO statement added.

Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industries Vice President Junaid Altaf and Quetta Chamber of Commerce and Industries Vice President Akhtar Kakar are part of the delegation of businessmen who are in Dushanbe.