Dushanbe hosted the 7th meeting of the joint working group between Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, focusing on the integrated management of transboundary water resources in Central Asia. This meeting, organized by Tajikistan’s Ministry of Energy and Water Resources, centered on exploring the potential of Lake Sarez’s water resources for providing clean drinking water to the region.
The discussions highlighted the importance of new joint cross-border projects in water management and stressed the need for effective implementation. The idea of utilizing Lake Sarez for drinking water purposes was first brought up in 2018, when Tajik President Emomali Rahmon and Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev agreed to have the intergovernmental joint commission on trade and economic cooperation study the feasibility of this proposal during Rahmon’s state visit to Uzbekistan.
President Rahmon has long championed the strategic use of Tajikistan’s abundant freshwater resources on international platforms. He has proposed Lake Sarez as a potential source for long-term drinking water solutions for Central Asian countries. Additionally, the Tajik government is exploring the possibility of exporting drinking water from Lake Sarez to other Asian nations, including Iran, Jordan, and the United Arab Emirates. This initiative reflects Tajikistan’s commitment to addressing regional water scarcity and leveraging Lake Sarez as a key resource for sustainable water supply.
As Uzbekistan and Tajikistan continue their discussions, the focus remains on developing effective and sustainable strategies for the collaborative management of transboundary water resources, ensuring that the region’s water needs are met through cooperative efforts and strategic partnerships.
