President Asif Ali Zardari on Wednesday reiterated the government’s commitment to further bolster bilateral trade between Pakistan and Iran by vigorously pursuing mega projects in all areas, particularly energy and trade.
Speaking with an Iranian delegation headed by Iranian Oil Minister Rostam Ghasemi, the president highlighted Pakistan’s energy needs and the steps taken to meet them.
Presidential Spokesman Senator Farhatullah Babar said that during the meeting the president also called for greater connectivity between the two countries, and stressed the need to move forward on the “ECO Container Train” project. He said that regular operation of the ECO train would lend impetus to cargo and transit facilities between the two countries. Zardari said that Pakistan would welcome Iran’s technical and financial support for upgrading the Quetta-Taftan Railway track.
The president also called for improved visa facilitation, opening of new border posts and removal of tariff and non-tariff barriers for stepping up trade and commerce. He also called for early finalisation of the agreement to export wheat to Iran.
Expressing his deepest concern over sectarian killings in the country, the president said, “Pakistan treats all its citizens equally,” adding that the government was fully determined to bring the perpetrators of these crimes to justice. He said that Pakistan was examining the feasibility of starting special direct flights from Quetta and Gilgit to Meshed.
He expressed satisfaction over the recent signing of the Security Cooperation Agreement between Pakistan and Iran, saying that enhanced cooperation in border security would help in combating terrorism, cross-border crimes and drug trafficking.
On the situation in Afghanistan, Zardari reiterated Pakistan’s support to an Afghan-led and Afghan-owned peace process. He called for employing the collective strengths of Muslims and the need to shun violence. “We have to take control of our own affairs and find our own solutions to the problems,” he added.
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The Iranian minister also called on Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf at the Prime Minister’s Secretariat and discussed progress on the gas pipeline project. Ashraf termed the agreement on Pakistan-Iran Gas Pipeline as a “leap forward”. He thanked Iran for supplying electricity to Pakistan for meeting the energy requirements of Gwadar.
The Iranian minister informed the prime minister that work regarding the Iran-Pakistan Gas Pipeline on the Iranian side was complete.