Leader of the House in Senate and Secretary General Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Jehangir Badr has said that President Asif Ali Zardari’s resolve for the completion of the Iran-Pakistan Gas Pipeline project without giving into foreign pressures is commendable and in line with the country’s strategic and economic interests.
He said that the completion of the project would not only eliminate gas shortages from the country but would also act as strong pillar of the diplomatic relations between the two neighborly Muslim countries. He emphasized the importance of increasing trade between the two countries which at present equaled merely 1/10th its total potential.
He added that the two countries share a common history, traditions, culture and religion. Adding this mixture to economic feasibility pf trade would beget positive dynamics for the region. In the short term trade between the two countries can be increased from half a billion to two billion dollars. Badr also hinted on matters of currency swap, rationalization of the tariffs discussion on trade policies between the two sides.