Iran is seriously working to overcome energy shortage of Pakistan and has pledged to boost bilateral ties with Pakistan, said Iranian envoy during a visit to FCCI.
He unveiled the business visa policy saying under the fast track visa process, Iranian embassy will issue business visa on the same day and one year multiple visa may also be issued to the Pakistani businessmen. These commitments were made by the Iranian Consulate General Mohamamd Hossain Bani Asadi during a meeting with FCCI office bearers and business community of Faisalabad, where a large number of exporters and industrialist were also present.
He further added Pakistan is a big producer of milk and meat and in this regard, meat and milk may also be exported to Iran. He also appreciated the textile industry of Faisalabad which is contributing towards economic development of Pakistan. He stressed to work jointly for the betterment of trade relations. Iran had laid the gas pipe line till border in a very short time and Pakistan may initiate to develop the infrastructure for the import of gas. Iran is keen to minimise the energy shortage of Pakistan, therefore, in this regard 100MW electricity project will complete in one and half year and building of 1000MW project from Zedan to Queta is also under consideration, he added. Iranian consulate is arranging Iranian products’ exhibition at expo centre Lahore in the third week of April.
Earlier in his welcome address, President FCCI Muzammil Sultan said Faisalabad alone has been contributing about 40-50 per cent of the total textile exports of the country during the last many years. There is a tremendous trade potential between the two countries and it is pertinent to mention that during the Pak-Iran President’s meeting in Islamabad, rail and road links between the two countries, energy projects, early realisation of Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline, and other projects of regional connectivity were also discussed. Furthermore, expeditious implementation of Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline project, 1,000 MW electricity transmission line and 100 MW Gwadar port power supply in order to meet the country’s growing demand for energy and power were also part of the dsicussion. He further added Iran is Pakistan’s important trading partner, but still there is a wide scope of cooperation to enhance the bilateral trade. Trade between the two countries is heavily tilted towards Iran and this can be gauged from the fact that in the last financial year, the size of bilateral trade between the two sides was Rs1.491 billion, out of which exports from Iran stood at $1.233 billion.
During the question answer session, Former Vice President FCCI Engr Sohail Bin Rashid, Ch Asghar Ali and Ch Jameel Ahmad, Ch M Boota, Rana Sikandar Azam, Abdul Sattar Alvi, Haji M Abid, Malik Muhammad Arshad and Haji M Basheer also highlighted issues before the consulate. At the end of the meeting, Vice President FCCI Rehan Naseem Bharara offered vote of thanks, whereby, President FCCI Muzammil Sultan presented the FCCI memento to the consulate.
