Pakistan, Iran for promoting bilateral trade ties, business activities at border areas
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Iran on Monday agreed to enhance bilateral trade ties and promote business activities at the border areas to ensure development and prosperity of the people of two countries.
Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, in a press talk along with President of Iran Dr Ebrahim Raisi after witnessing the signing of bilateral agreements and MoUs at the PM House, said under the leadership of the Iranian President, the two countries could bring development and prosperity in their respective sides by turning their borders into hub of business activities.
He said during their meeting, the two sides held detailed discussions on various fields of mutual interests including economy, trade, investment, diplomacy, security and culture.
The Iranian President, who arrived here on Monday on three-day official visit to Pakistan along with a high-powered delegation, said that the trade volume between the two brotherly countries was not reflective of the true potential and they wanted to increase it to US$10 billion annually in five years.
President Raisi stressed that steps were needed to enhance border markets to give spur to the business and trade activities at the border areas, besides enhancing security.
He said that the two countries shared common affinities and no one could separate them, adding the two sides in their meetings, decided to further promote the bilateral ties between the two countries in trade and economic sectors.
President Dr Raisi said that there were a number of common issues including fight against terrorism, efforts to curb organized crimes and smuggling, in which the two sides could enhance their cooperation.
The president stressed that it was significant to further broaden the bilateral ties for the benefits of the two countries, besides continuity of cooperation at the highest level.
He said that the historic and durable ties between Iran and Pakistan provided them opportunity to fully utilize them for the welfare and prosperity of the two nations.
President Raisi said that Iran had achieved immense progress in science and technology and the country was ready to share their experiences and knowledge.
President of Iran Dr Ebrahim Raisi, conveying best regards from the people and the Supreme Leader of Iran to the people of Pakistan, said they had always been supporting the oppressed people of various areas of the world, specially the people of Gaza and had always been defending Islam and raising their voice for the freedom of Quds Al-Sharif.
He believed that today people in different parts of the world were in pain due to current situation in Palestine. At the same time, he said the international organization such as Untied Nations and UN Security Council who claimed to support human rights, could not perform their core responsibility.
President Raisi emphasized that the people belonging to all religions across the world including that of Iran and Pakistan, were calling for an end to the oppression and barbarism against the people of Palestine.
The Iranian President believed that the position adopted by the people around the world and by the Palestinian resistance would surely be realized one day.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif commended Iran’s robust stand for the Muslims of Gaza and the barbarism being committed against them, saying that Pakistan in this regard also fully supported the oppressed people of Gaza.
He said the resolution of the UN Security Council with respect to Palestine was being violated. He regretted that over 35,000 people had so far been martyred in Palestine.
He also called for raising voice at various international forums including Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) till complete ceasefire in Gaza.
At the same time, the prime minister said the Kashmir valley had also been turned to red by the blood of the oppressed Kashmiris. He believed that Kashmir will also be liberated soon.
The prime minister thanked the Iranian President for visiting Pakistan, saying that he was the first head of state of any country who visited Pakistan after general elections held in February 2024.
He said both Iran and Pakistan enjoyed very close and brotherly relations which spanned over centuries.
He said the two countries enjoyed historic relations with deep-rooted people-to-people bonds and similarities in religion and culture.
He stressed that these close and brotherly relations should be strengthened and promoted for mutual benefit as well as development and prosperity in the region.
Source: APP