Pakistan-Iran relations are stronger and more stable than ever, said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif upon his arrival in Iran for two-day visit, on second leg of his four-nation visit.
Prior to this, PM Sharif had visited Türkiye on a two-day visit, and is scheduled to visit Tajikistan and Azerbijan as well. The premier was received by Iranian President Dr. Masoud Peshkeshian at Saadabad Palace in Tehran.
PM Shehbaz said that he is visiting Iran to thank them for their support in the recent Pakistan-India dispute. “We had expressed our readiness to accept Iran’s offer of mediation, which India had refused,” he added.
The PM also said that Pakistan wants to increase bilateral trade with Iran to $10 billion.
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Earlier in February this year, Pakistan and Iran had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), setting a bilateral trade target of $10 billion. The MoU was signed during a high-level meeting between the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry and Iran’s Mashhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Additionally, Iran had also assured Pakistan of lower business visa fees and increased cooperation and facilitation for trade activities. It is notable here that Pak-Iran trade figures for last fiscal year stood at $2.8 billion.
Prior to this visit, PM Sharif had told Iranian media that Pakistan and Iran are discussing a free-trade agreement (FTA), saying that “I personally believe that a strong economic linkage between Pakistan’s Balochistan province and Iran’s Sistan and Baluchestan province can be good for the entire region. It can also be very effective in dealing with terrorism”.
PM Sharif said that Islamabad and Tehran will also continue to support each other on issues of the Islamic countries as well as regional cooperation.
