TEHRAN – The Pakistani city of Lahore hosted a meeting to explore opportunities to increase trade between Iran and Pakistan to $10 billion, a goal agreed upon during the late Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi’s last visit to the neighboring country.
Thursday’s meeting was attended by the ambassadors of Iran and Pakistan, as well as officials from the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI), to explore opportunities to increase trade between the two countries to $10 billion.
At the start of the meeting, Pakistani officials and traders discussed the obstacles impeding business activities between the two countries, including lack of banking channels, the need to build a gas pipeline from Iran to Pakistan, implementation of a barter mechanism, the need to expedite the conclusion of a free trade agreement, and the importance of hosting a specialized exhibition of Pakistani products similar to Iran’s efforts in hosting the Iran Expo.
Iranian Ambassador to Islamabad Reza Amiri Moghadam highlighted the significant capabilities of Chabahar port and suggested that Pakistani businessmen and traders could use it to access the Iranian market and transport goods to markets in West Asia and Europe.
Meanwhile, Pakistan’s Ambassador to Iran Muhammad Mudassir Tipu noted the significant tourism and economic strengths of the Islamic Republic of Iran and stressed the need for the Pakistani government and private sector to harness these opportunities.
FPCCI regional head Zaki Aijaz said the two countries needed to intensify joint efforts to increase bilateral trade to the target of $10 billion.
EF/
