Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Thursday said his country was ready to enhance trade with Pakistan by up to $10 billion within a couple of months, also showing keen interest in importing one million tonnes of wheat and 200,000 tonnes of quality rice from Pakistan within weeks. Ahmadinejad, who is visiting Pakistan for a trilateral summit also involving Afghanistan, had separate meetings with President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani.
In their meeting, Zardari and Ahmadinejad resolved to complete the mega Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline project by 2014.
According to an official statement, President Zardari called for enhancing bilateral cooperation between Islamabad and Tehran for promoting peace, stability and economic progress of the people of the region in general and of the two countries in particular.
“The two leaders reiterated firm resolve to boost mutual coordination to face common challenges including countering terrorism, drugs and narcotics control and human trafficking,” it said.
An official privy to the meeting said the two leaders focused on Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline with both sides reiterating their resolve to complete the project by 2014, the deadline set for the mega project.
According to the statement, President’s spokesman Farhatullah Babar said Zardari welcomed the Iranian president and expressed hope that Ahmadinjad’s visit to Pakistan would provide immense opportunity to the two countries to further bolster cooperation in areas particularly trade, energy, security, communication and infrastructure.
Babar said rail and road links between the two countries, energy projects, and other projects of regional connectivity were also discussed in the meeting.
Zardari reiterated commitment to expedite implementation of Iran-Pakistan Gas Pipeline Project, 1,000MW of electricity transmission line and Gwadar power supply to meet the country’s growing demand for energy and power.
He said increasing bilateral cooperation particularly in energy and infrastructure would help both countries overcome the challenges in the way of realisation of full existing potential of their relations and realise the goal of raising the bilateral trade to $5 billion target which he said was feasible. The two sides also agreed to put in place effective arrangements and better coordination between the border-control authorities to prevent violent incidents on the borders.
Gilani: During the meeting at the PM’s House, the Iranian president and Prime Minister Gilani exchanged views on matters of mutual interest in a frank and cordial atmosphere.
“They also discussed bilateral cooperation in various fields such as energy, banking, agriculture, infrastructure and trade,” a separate official statement said.
“Both leaders agreed to pursue the energy projects including electricity and gas on fast-track basis. They also discussed the status of Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline as well,” it said.
Both leaders also decided to improve the border management to facilitate transportation of goods.
Both sides showed their willingness to open a new border point at Gabd and Reemdan along the coastal highway of Pakistan.
The Pakistani side was apprised of the progress made in connection with opening of the office of Pakistan Consulate General at Bandar Abbas to facilitate trade and travel.
Gilani also thanked the Iranian leader on his country’s provision of electricity to Gwadar area. He said the import of electricity from Iran would partially alleviate the electricity deficiency in the country.
Iran willing to enhance Pakistan trade by up to $10 billion
