RECORDER REPORT

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister’s Adviser on Commerce, Textile, Industries and Production and Investment, Abdul Razak Dawood on Thursday stated that Pakistan was interested in promoting trade and investment with Iran.

He was talking to the outgoing Iranian ambassador to Pakistan Mehdi Honardoost who called on him and discussed different proposals to expand bilateral trade between the two neighbouring countries.

Secretary Commerce, Sardar Ahmed Nawaz Shukhera was also present in the meeting.

The volume of formal trade and investment ties between Pakistan and Iran was unimpressive due to sanctions imposed by the United States and other international organisations. However, informal trade is continuous through the border as the two countries do not have banking channels. The traders of Pakistan and Iran are using third country for this purpose.

During the previous visit of Pakistan’s Army Chief to Iran, an enthusiasm to increase trade and investment was witnessed but later that eagerness evaporated.

However Razak Dawood in his remarks stated that “Pakistan-Iran trade volume must be increased”.

During the meeting with Iranian ambassador, the adviser stated that the two brotherly countries have cordial relations saying “there is a lot of potential for trade and economic cooperation”.

Mehdi Honardoost reciprocated these sentiments and said that Iran was keen to further strengthen relations with Pakistan, which are mutually beneficial to the people of both countries. He said that Iran intends to expand trade and economic cooperation with Pakistan, along with increasing regional cooperation. The Adviser to PM ensured full cooperation to enhance bilateral trade & investment relations with Iran and Pakistan.