ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Iran have agreed to promote border trade, improve customs coordination and enhance facilities to keep border crossings operational round the clock as both countries seek to strengthen economic cooperation and achieve a bilateral trade target of $10 billion.
The understanding was reached during a meeting between Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and a six-member Iranian delegation led by Iran’s Minister of Industry, Mine and Trade Syed Mohammad Atabak in Islamabad.
During the meeting, both sides agreed to improve logistics and customs procedures through closer coordination while expanding cooperation in the mining sector, particularly in the processing and value addition of precious stones.
Prime Minister Shehbaz said Pakistan attaches great importance to its relations with Iran, describing the neighbouring country as a close and trusted partner. He reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to regional peace and strengthening bilateral ties, particularly in the areas of trade and economic cooperation.
The prime minister expressed confidence that the $10 billion bilateral trade target set by the leadership of both countries could be achieved through sustained efforts and enhanced economic engagement.
He said expanding trade in food products, agricultural commodities and related sectors would create new opportunities and benefit the people of both countries.
Shehbaz also conveyed messages of goodwill to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Syed Mojtaba Hosseini Khamenei and President Dr Masoud Pezeshkian.
Iranian Minister Mohammad Atabak thanked Pakistan for its warm hospitality and praised Islamabad’s diplomatic efforts to promote regional peace and stability.
He said Iran was keen to further expand economic and trade relations with Pakistan, adding that technical-level negotiations on a Free Trade Agreement between the two countries were progressing.
Federal ministers and senior officials from relevant government institutions also attended the meeting.
