Islamabad, 4 January 2022 (TDI): Seyyed Mohammad Ali Hosseini, the Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran to Pakistan called on Syed Fakhar Imam, the Federal Minister of National Food Security of Pakistan.
During the meeting, the Pakistani Minister appreciated the Iranian proposal to waive off all tariffs on agrarian exports to Iran from Pakistan. He expressed that Pakistan has tremendous export potential with respect to onion, potatoes, citrus fruits, rice, mangoes, fisheries, and livestock.
Moreover, Pakistan is capable to fulfill the complete demand of rice of Iran as it has 8 Mn tonnes of rice that can be exported. Syed Fakhar Imam said that Pakistan exported appx 144,000 tonnes of mangoes internationally, therefore its export to Iran also has enormous potential.
Tahir Khursheed, the Secretary Ministry of National Food Security and Research, who was also part of the meeting, stated that the expansive border between the two neighboring countries makes it perfect for the trade of perishable goods.
Seyyed Mohammad Ali Hosseini on his part enunciated that Iran imports multiple agrarian products from Pakistan and it has imported 5,000 tonnes of citrus fruits from Pakistan. The Ambassador articulated that Iran also imports rice from Pakistan and has a significant market for red meat, fisheries, and livestock.
He enlightened the Pakistani Federal Minister that Iran exports 104 MW of electricity to Pakistan. Besides, Iran and Pakistan have a borderland of 900 km and both countries ought to take advantage of that to support each other.
Furthermore, during the meeting, Syed Fakhar Imam expressed that Iran is proficient in the floriculture sector and the exchange of such proficiency will benefit both countries.
He further highlighted that the Netherlands has the largest floriculture production in the world which should be taken as an example. Whilst the Ambassador of Iran to Pakistan proposed to exchange Iran’s technical know-how of floriculture with Pakistan.
The Pakistani Minister underscored that Pakistan faces multiple challenges. However, under the leadership of Prime Minister Imran Khan, with the appropriate policy interventions, the agriculture sector can be transformed.
Moreover, Pakistani agriculture has been waddling along with the conventional farming techniques and it is time that Pakistan revolutionizes its agriculture sector in terms of modernization.
Fakhar Imam lauded the efforts of the current government and pointed out that in the last 70 years the major setback to research was inadequate funds. For the first time, under Prime Minister Initiative Program billions of Rupees have been invested in agrarian research which has led to record production of maize, wheat, and rice last year.
Lastly, the Federal Minister thanked the Irani Ambassador and emphasized the amiable and friendly relations between the two countries ever since 1947. He said that Iran was the first country to recognize the state of Pakistan and the two countries should enhance their mutual relation.
