Iran wants to boost trade with Pakistan: Envoy

PESHAWAR: Acting Iranian Consul General Syed Humayun Aamir Khalili has assured that his country will take all possible measures for removal of impediments to Pakistan and Iran bilateral trade.
“We want to boost trade and economic relations with Pakistan,” the Iranian diplomat said, while speaking at a meeting with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa of Commerce and Industry (KPCCI) President Fuad Ishaq here on Tuesday. Khalili also invited the Pakistani companies to invest in Iran and take advantage of the conducive environment for investment in Iran. The KPCCI president hoped the Pak-Iran gas pipeline project would be completed as per schedule after the lifting of the global sanctions against Iran.
Fuad Ishaq said the export of electricity from Iran would increase to help boost industrialisation in Pakistan. He said cemented Pak-Iran relations would improve economy of the country.
During the meeting, it was agreed to make joint efforts for enhancement volume of trade between Pakistan and Iran, exchange of business delegations and students, and promotion of academic linkages of the two brotherly Islamic countries.
The KPCCI chief said the mutual trade volume was much less between Pakistan and Iran as compared to Afghanistan and Pakistan. He said the hurdles continued to impede trade between the two countries. He said serious efforts should be made to remove these impediments.
Fuad Ishaq said the businessmen and traders of the two countries had evinced great interest in boosting bilateral trade relations and the private sector may play good role in this regard.
The KPCCI chief stressed the need for holding joint business expo, exchanging business delegations as the two brotherly Islamic countries need to come closer and boot their economies. He also invited the Iranian investors to invest in hydel power generation and other potential sectors in Pakistan. Khalili agreed to proposals of the KPCCI. He said his country would take steps to remove hurdles to Pakistan and Iran bilateral trade.