Islamabad, 22 April 2024 (TDI): Pakistan and Iran have agreed to increase the volume of bilateral trade to ten billion dollars in the next five years.
The understanding to this effect was reached during a meeting between Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif and Iranian President Dr. Seyyed Ebrahim Raisi in Islamabad today.
The Ministers and senior officials from both sides were present at the meeting.
They discussed the entire range of bilateral relations and exchanged views on important regional and global developments.
Underscoring the rich history of relations between Pakistan and Iran, the two leaders reaffirmed their commitment to expand wide-ranging bilateral cooperation.
Particularly in the areas of trade, health, science, connectivity, culture, judicial matters, agriculture, technology, special zones, legal cooperation, and people-to-people contacts.
Dr Seyyed Ebrahim Raisi said both Pakistan and Iran are determined to fight terrorism and other organized crimes.
He expressed the hope that his visit to Pakistan would be a turning point regarding the expansion and promotion of bilateral relations between the great people of Pakistan and Iran.
They also agreed to cooperate in developing joint approaches to confront common challenges including the threat of terrorism.
In his remarks on the occasion, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed Pakistan’s firm commitment to further strengthen bilateral relations with Iran.
He said the time has come to transform our border areas into the ones of economic progress and prosperity.
Shehbaz Sharif said Pakistan and Iran enjoy historic relations and these are deeply rooted in common faith and culture.
He was confident that the visit of the Iranian President would further strengthen and deepen the bilateral relationship between Pakistan and Iran.
Issue of Palestine
During the meeting, President Raisi and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed strong and unequivocal condemnation of the indiscriminate use of force by Israeli occupation authorities in Gaza for over seven months.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said Pakistan stands by the Palestinian people.
He said the Muslim countries need to collectively raise their voices from various forums in support of the Palestinian people.
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The two leaders reiterated the call for international efforts to an immediate and unconditional ceasefire, lifting of the siege, and humanitarian relief to the people of Gaza.
The Prime Minister lauded the Iranian leadership, especially Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, for Iran’s unequivocal and principled support for the Kashmiri people and their legitimate rights.
The Iranian president is also planning to meet the Pakistani president, Senate chairman, and National Assembly speaker before visiting the capitals of southern Sindh province and eastern Punjab province to meet the provincial leadership.
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