Both countries agree to accelerate work on Free Trade Agreement
PAK-IRAN BORDER
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Iran’s President Seyed Ebrahim Raisi on Thursday jointly inaugurated the Mand-Pishin border sustenance market aimed at boosting the bilateral trade.
The Iranian president said that his country desired to boost trade in energy field with Pakistan. This is one of the six border markets which will be constructed along the Pak-Iran common border.
The Mand-Pishin border sustenance marketplace will provide a thriving platform for increasing cross-border trade, fostering economic growth, and opening up new avenues of opportunity for local businesses.
The two leaders also planted a sapling in the premises of the border market as a gesture to stride forward in the bilateral relationship between the two countries. Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Power Minister Khurram Dastagir, Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb and senior officials of Pakistan and Iran were present.
The prime minister and the Iranian president also inaugurated the Polan-Gabd electricity transmission line at the Mand-Pishin border crossing point. The line will play a pivotal role in meeting the energy needs of the region, including households and businesses, by bringing-in an additional 100 MW of electricity from Iran.
The Foreign Office in a statement said, “The joint inauguration is a manifestation of the strong commitment of Pakistan and Iran to uplift the welfare of residents of the neighboring provinces of Balochistan and Sistan-o-Baluchestan, respectively.”
According to Minister for Information and Broadcasting Marriyum Aurangzeb, the project was pending since 2009 and has been completed in record time of four months under the leadership of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. She said the project will unleash development, trade, business and employment opportunities contributing to future prosperity of people of Gwadar and Balochistan. Pakistan and Iran have agreed to accelerate work on Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between the two countries and finalize it at the earliest.
This was stated by Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif while speaking to the tribal elders and notables of the city in Gwadar today. The Prime Minister said today he held a very constructive, positive and fruitful meeting with Iranian President Seyed Ebrahim Raisi, covering all issues of bilateral interests including trade and economy.
He said both sides agreed to enhance bilateral cooperation in trade, investment, Information Technology, Agriculture, power, energy and other sectors. The Prime Minister said we want to increase trade activities with the government of Iran to facilitate people of both countries.
He said today we inaugurated Mand-Pishin Border Sustenance Marketplace and Polan-Gabd Electricity Transmission Line at Mand-Pishin border crossing point.
He said the border markets are envisaged along the Pakistan-Iran border to facilitate the people on both sides of the border with enhanced cross-border trade, fostering economic growth and opening up of new avenues of opportunity for local businesses.
The Prime Minister said the 100 MW electricity transmission line via Polan-Gabd will help offset the energy needs of households and businesses in the Balochistan province. The Prime Minister said the projects will not only enhance bilateral trade, but also usher in a new era of development and prosperity in the surrounding areas.
He said the two sides also discussed prospects of undertaking solar energy projects in Pakistan on which the Iranian President assured his complete support in materializing these projects. The Prime Minister said he also discussed the projects under China-Pakistan Economic Corridor with the Iranian leadership and presented suggestions as well.
He thanked the Iranian President for taking keen interest in the completion of the transmission line project for Gwadar. The Prime Minister also extended invitation to Iranian President Seyed Ebrahim Raisi to visit Pakistan, which he accepted.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has said that Pakistan-Iran border markets would not only ameliorate the socioeconomic conditions of the border regions but also foster new opportunities for local businesses.
The prime minister, in an interview with Iran’s official news agency IRNA published on Thursday, stressed the importance of enhanced cooperation with Iran saying that the energy projects and border markets were emblematic of the vitality of Pakistan-Iran friendship.
The prime minister’s interview came as he, along with Iran’s President Seyed Ebrahim Raisi jointly inaugurated the Mand-Pishin border sustenance market on Thursday aimed at boosting the bilateral trade. This is one of the six border markets which will be constructed along the Pak-Iran common border.
The prime minister said Pakistan and Iran were brotherly countries bound by deep-rooted religious, cultural, and linguistic ties. “Both our governments are collaborating closely for the betterment and socio-economic uplift of our peoples,” he said.
He said the Mand-Pishin border marketplace and the Polan-Gabd electricity project were tangible manifestations of this resolve. They would also serve as a stepping stone for greater cooperation between our two countries, especially in the economic domain, he added.
In order to enhance the bilateral trade, the prime minister called for intensifying the efforts and applying collective energies and resources, as there existed tremendous scope and mutual desire for the actualization of the trade potential. He said both Pakistan and Iran were deeply committed to achieving an annual trade volume of $5 billion. In this regard, the operationalization of the barter trade mechanism is a significant step, he remarked.
Prime Minister Shehbaz viewed that border markets would enhance trade and contribute to the development of the two nations. Last year, the two sides made substantive progress during the 21st session of the Joint Economic Commission held in Islamabad in August, and called for keeping the momentum.
Coming to the regional situation, the prime minister congratulated the governments of Iran and Saudi Arabia on the resumption of diplomatic ties. “This milestone achievement is a testament to the vision and foresight of the astute leadership of Iran and Saudi Arabia and the valuable role played by China…We are confident that this important development would serve as a harbinger for regional peace and prosperity,” he said.
The prime minister believed that the Polan-Gwadar electricity project was emblematic of the vitality of Pakistan-Iran friendship and a testimony of the strength of mutual cooperation. He said completion of the project in record time manifested the potential of bilateral cooperation.
He noted that several initiatives for improvement of maritime and port cooperation were being discussed between Pakistan and Iran, including collaboration of activities between the sister ports of Gwadar and Chabahar. “We will continue to work for deepening connectivity between our two countries in all fields, particularly given our highest commitment to complement each other in promoting regional trade, transit and connectivity,” the prime minister resolved.
To a question, he said quoted great poet and philosopher Allama Muhammad Iqbal who characterized Afghanistan as the beating ‘Heart of Asia’. “Just as a healthy heart sustains a vibrant body, a peaceful and stable Afghanistan is instrumental to regional peace and prosperity. Pakistan remains committed to the goal of promoting shared prosperity for Afghanistan and the region.”
He said Afghanistan currently faced multiple and complex challenges in the security, economic and humanitarian domains. Over 28 million people or two-third of the entire population in Afghanistan, required urgent humanitarian assistance to survive.
Prime Minister Shehbaz urged the international community to stand by the people of Afghanistan at this critical juncture as constructive engagement with the Interim Afghan Government (IAG) was imperative.
“What is needed is a ‘balanced’ approach based on hierarchy of priorities for the international community including ‘counter terrorism’, ‘drug trafficking’, and promoting inclusive governance etc. at the same time, the international community must play its part in promoting sustainable economic pathways for the ordinary Afghan people,” he believed. He said as friends and neighbors of Afghanistan, the neighboring countries including Pakistan and Iran had a critical role to that end.
The prime minister said Pakistan-Iran relations were rooted in a history of close and unremitting cooperation through cultural and people to people contacts. These longstanding exchanges between our two nations have fraternized into a bond between Pakistan and Iran today, he added.
“I am glad to note that IRNA and Pakistan news agency, Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) have recently signed an agreement to promote media collaboration,” the prime minister added.
He said several such agreements were under discussion in various fields to enhance cooperation in the fields of television, films, cinema, literary and linguistic enterprises. These would help depict our rich culture and traditions in their true light and further strengthen the ties of friendship and solidarity between our two nations, he remarked.
Earlier, in a statement issued in Islamabad, the Foreign Office said this would be one of the six border markets to be constructed along Pak-Iran border. The Mand-Pishin border sustenance marketplace will provide a thriving platform for increasing cross-border trade, fostering economic growth, and opening up new avenues of opportunity for local businesses.
The joint inauguration is a manifestation of the strong commitment of Pakistan and Iran to uplift the welfare of residents of the neighboring provinces of Balochistan and Sistan-o-Baluchestan, respectively.
It would also serve as a significant stride forward in the bilateral relationship between the two countries. Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said the brotherly bonds between Pakistan and Iraq are deeply rooted in common religion and shared interests.
Talking to Iraq’s Ambassador to Pakistan Hamid Abbas Lafta who called on him in Islamabad, Bilawal Bhutto said multi-dimensional cooperation and exchange of high-level delegations are parts of these bilateral relations.
The foreign minister said Pakistan has always supported Iraqi brothers and sisters in difficult times. The Iraqi ambassador expressed his gratitude to the government and people of Pakistan for their consistent support and cooperation. — DNA
