ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Iran have agreed to form a joint committee to resolve trade and border issues, a move aimed at strengthening ties between the two neighbouring countries.
The agreement came during a visit by Iran’s Minister for Roads and Urban Development, Farzana Sadiq, to Islamabad. In a series of meetings with Pakistani ministers, both sides committed to enhancing cooperation.
Federal Minister for Communications, Abdul Aleem Khan, assured his Iranian counterpart that delays for Iranian commercial trucks at the border would be cleared promptly. He said he had immediately instructed relevant authorities, including the National Logistics Cell (NLC) and the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), to facilitate this.
“Pakistan offers Iran trade with China and other countries through its trade routes,” Mr Khan stated, emphasising Pakistan’s commitment to regional trade. He noted that the warming relations between the two “brotherly Islamic countries” would have positive effects on the region.
Further discussions in a joint meeting covered specific projects. Railways Minister Hanif Abbasi pushed for the quick implementation of a September agreement and said a project for the Tehran-Istanbul train would be reviewed in December.
Meanwhile, Commerce Minister Jam Kamal Khan expressed a desire to significantly increase bilateral trade volume, setting a target of $10 billion.
The Iranian minister, Farzana Sadiq, thanked Pakistan for the hospitality and confirmed Iran’s keen interest in increasing cooperation, particularly in maritime affairs linking the ports of Chabahar and Gwadar. She also welcomed plans to hold a Regional Transport Ministers’ Conference in Islamabad.
