Dr Mahmoud Salahi, the governor of the largest province of Iran, Khorasan Razvi, Sunday said they would extend full cooperation to the Punjab government in energy and other sectors.
Speaking at a dinner hosted in his honour the Chief Minister’s Secretariat, he said Pakistan and Iran enjoyed strong brotherly relations which would strengthen with the passage of time. Earlier, the governor of Khorasan called on Punjab Chief Minister Mian Shahbaz Sharif where they agreed to extend cooperation in various sectors.
It was also decided to constitute a joint committee as well as working groups which would review the implementation of agreements of cooperation between the two provinces regularly. Speaking at the dinner, Shahbaz said the Muslims from Casablanca to Kuala Lumpur were looking for a leadership which could unite them and guide them to the road leading to progress and prosperity.
He said if the European countries fighting with each other for thousands of years unite under a common parliament, currency and union, the believers in one God, Holy Prophet (PBUH) and a Holy Quran could also do the same. He said that keeping in view the present international and regional situation, Pakistan and Iran should enhance further cooperation in trade, industries and other sectors.
He said there was centuries-old common civilisation, history and cultural relations between Pakistan and Iran and the people of both the countries had deep affiliation with each other. Iranian Ambassador in Pakistan Mashallah Shaakri, Punjab Assembly Speaker Rana Muhammad Iqbal, Senior Advisor to the CM Sardar Zulfiqar Ali Khan Khosa, Senator Pervaiz Rashid, provincial ministers, parliamentarians, intellectuals, columnists and prominent personalities from various walks of life were present on the occasion.
Shahbaz termed the visit of the Iranian governor as a memorable and said the people of Lahore were proud to host dignitary. The chief minister said the time had come to further promote economic and trade relations and there was a vast scope of cooperation between Punjab and Khorasan in energy, agriculture, livestock and other sectors.