Pakistan keen to boost trade with Iran: Fatemi
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WASHINGTON: The lifting of economic sanctions on Iran will open “massive trade” opportunities for Pakistan, says the prime minister’s special assistant for foreign affairs.
At a briefing to the media, Syed Tariq Fatemi also said that both Pakistan and Afghanistan were committed to promoting dialogue between the Kabul government and the Taliban. Any militant faction unwilling to come to the negotiating table will be targeted by Pakistani and Afghan security forces, he said.
Mr Fatemi expressed the hope that Iran-Pakistan pipeline project when completed would transform the energy markets of South Asia by bringing gas to the energy-starved region. “We are convinced that it is the right thing,” he said about the Iran’s nuclear agreement with the US. “We are also convinced that an end to sanctions will open up new opportunities for Pakistan to enhance its commercial and economic ties to Iran.”
Mr Fatemi said Pakistan had a long border with Iran and was keen to open up trade with it. “We have a long border, and we could have massive trade with that country, should this issue of sanctions no longer be hovering over us.”
“As soon as the sanctions are lifted, we will explore avenues and opportunities of strengthening our economic [and] commercial ties with Iran,” he added.
Published in Dawn, July 26th, 2015
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Comments (46) Closed
Jul 26, 2015 08:00am
Time to explore opportunities with Iran is now not after sanctions are lifted. Why are not our leaders more proactive?
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Jul 26, 2015 08:04am
Check with Iran if they are interested in your trade
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Jul 26, 2015 08:09am
Mr Fatimi if US can negotiate a deal with Iran and other countries can buy Iranian oil while the sanctions are still on, then surely you can start your "economic ties" right away.
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Jul 26, 2015 08:54am
@vk yeah they are interested in selling gas coz everyone wants money and we are interested in buying it coz we want energy.simple!
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Jul 26, 2015 09:06am
India owes Iran $10 billion for oil purchases that India does not have the cash to pay. That money is earmarked for a pipeline to China via Pakistan CPEC. Iran has asked India to pay up in three months or sell assets to raise money.
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Jul 26, 2015 09:08am
@Usman
Well going by Iranian media they are not very keen on doing business with Pakistan
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Jul 26, 2015 09:15am
@Blue Saffron, you are such a genius!
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Jul 26, 2015 09:17am
Projected trade between Iran Pakistan = $20 billion per annum year over year. Just for starters. Keep in mind Pakistan economy is gigantic compared to Iran.
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Jul 26, 2015 09:32am
@Blue Saffron , please let us know the size of the gigantic economy and how it has grown over last 20 years
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Jul 26, 2015 09:35am
Iran and Pakistan had excellent relations and we are hoping that the relationship will again be excellent. It is not just trade but cultural and social impacts Iran has on sub continent. We have Iranian influence in language, architecture, cuisine etc.
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Jul 26, 2015 09:37am
“As soon as the sanctions are lifted, we will explore avenues and opportunities "... While Pakistan is waiting, India has already moved in.
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Jul 26, 2015 09:42am
Buisness can be done between two countries. What about Iran whether they want to do business with Pakistan or not? I haven't heard any statement from Iran that they want to resume any business with Pakistan. In fact they have given blank cheque to India to invest in all sectors including nuclear power generation, trade, Chahbahar port.
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Jul 26, 2015 10:00am
@Blue Saffron That money was blocked in some bank due to international sanctions. Now they are trying to recover it. Dont comment just after reading the head lines, try to understand the facts first.
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Jul 26, 2015 10:05am
Iran is so anxious to increase business with Pakistan that it has already fulfilled its contractual obligations wrt to energy connectivity three years ahead of schedule. It is also mobilizing to setup a $15 Billion oil refinery in Gwadur.
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Jul 26, 2015 10:24am
Iran has worlds largest natural gas reservoirs and Pakistan is more than ideal market for natural gas as there is huge CNG network in place for vehicles and domestic consumers in Pakistan. Also part of gas pipelines is already completed. It would to great for both brotherly countries to develop strong relations.
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Jul 26, 2015 10:49am
@Blue Saffron where do you get your data from...Iran is 1.5 times bigger economy compared to Pakistan...they are globally ranked 17th where as Pakistan is 26th...India is 3rd biggest economy in world..you need not to worry about our trade relations with Iran...
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Jul 26, 2015 11:04am
@part Well it is not Iran who has to initiate efforts for boosting trade with Pakistan. Most of the EU countries had started such efforts even before signing of the nuclear deal while we have legged behind and are still not taking any steps in right directions. Why wait till the sanctions are practically lifted ?
We should / must start efforts right now and sign deals which can be implemented immediately after sanctions are eased. It seems our rulers are not interested even at this late stage.
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Jul 26, 2015 11:09am
Now everyone now wants to do business with Iran? Iran knows who their friends were during their difficult times but simply having a border with Iran does not make them do trade with those countires.
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Jul 26, 2015 11:10am
@Blue Saffron misguiding information , India had problem in USD payment in Iran due to sanction as banks cannot transfer payment , we are not defaulters world knows and not like Pakistan ..Finally Iran start trading with Indian Rupees as currency during sanction period.... In fact Iran ask indain to invest in IRan which we accepted for around 8 billion USD ...Indian forign currency reverse is one of the word highest worth around 350 billion USD and we have gold reserve of close to 1 trillion USD equivalaent , we are a cash rich country my friend
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Jul 26, 2015 11:17am
It is the right opportunity to trade with Iran. We should remove all the hurdles, open up border and go for free trade with Iran. Hundreds of Pakistani items beside rice and grains can be exported to Iran and in turn Pakistan can also import oil and gas from Iran. Trade with Iran will greatly benefit both the countries.
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Jul 26, 2015 11:25am
@Blue Saffron eigther you trade with Iran or get aid from soudi arebia.not both at a time.
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Jul 26, 2015 11:29am
@Blue Saffron .............. India is doing $100B software trade, pakistan is doing $100M software trade, when will pakistan grow up, this year it is $90M, even bangladesh is selling more software than pakistan. I am sure in the near futhure, we will see Afghanisatn selling more software than pakistan. PAKISTAN, will create the best of Solrides
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Jul 26, 2015 11:29am
@Blue Saffron
Iran's GDP is double the gdp of Pakistan.
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Jul 26, 2015 11:30am
@Abdula Sipai .... I want pakistan to invest in Iran, specially in the oil and gas filed, this will make a superpower soon
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Jul 26, 2015 12:03pm
@someb good one
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Jul 26, 2015 12:55pm
Iran-Pakistan cooperation and trade is a geopolitical necessity for them and, particularly, in the context of the China Pakistan Economic Corridor.
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Jul 26, 2015 01:08pm
@Blue Saffron hahhahaha, your comments are always miles away from actual data, also worried about those who recommend. From where you collected this data?
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Jul 26, 2015 01:14pm
Too late, India is well ahead of the game.
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Jul 26, 2015 01:17pm
@Manoj Elango u are correct.
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Jul 26, 2015 01:19pm
Diesel was imported even when sanctions were there. Illegal was on; may be some legal trade will start.
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Jul 26, 2015 01:57pm
@someb The correct figure for Pakistan is 500 million which still pales in comparison to India's 99 billion.
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Jul 26, 2015 02:05pm
@part That's why Iranian Government requesting many time form Pakistan for Gas pipe line project!
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Jul 26, 2015 02:30pm
Iran with pakistan could be possible in few things where Iran can get profit otherwise Pakistan in nothing in terms of technology.
Wise choose the best
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Jul 26, 2015 02:47pm
@Usman But where do we have money to by Iranian gas, bro.
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Jul 26, 2015 02:53pm
@Ahtesham Well, Iranian government is not requesting us but has given us 2 alternative; either complete the gas pipe line on Pakistani side or pay liquidated damages.
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Jul 26, 2015 03:03pm
Indian commentators seem to be enjoying a false impression that there won't be any trade between pak and Iran. If that's the case then why are the Iranians sending a delegation to Pakistan in first week of August? Presstv.ir for reference.
Iran won't say no to any investment fron India but that doesn't mean it's going to be able to outdo the pak - China coridoor.
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Jul 26, 2015 03:52pm
dear all, pls read it again before fighting...he says, we are keen to....! keenness, hope, commitment..........
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Jul 26, 2015 04:15pm
@KM instead of spending billions on coal and furnace oil we can spend it instead on Iranian Gas which is cheapest in the region!!
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Jul 26, 2015 07:20pm
@krishan gopal you are telling us not to worry about India trade and economy but you are doing the same thing on a Pakistani news website. quite an irony!
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Jul 27, 2015 12:56am
Considering the location of Iran, Pakistan should have pursued long term strategy from its inception, now the reactive policies will not yield the desired results, policy makers in Pakistan are serious lacking in expertise.
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Jul 27, 2015 12:58am
@افغان ميهن and Iran is 5th largest oil producer. So it will be.
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Jul 27, 2015 01:11am
@vk good point, and ask why Iran already build its 1,100 km gas pipeline to pakistan border and has asked pakistan to open 6 more trade transit points at the vast border. Discussions are on, to give pakistan access to Turkey as well.
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Jul 27, 2015 04:48am
@part Oh Yaa they told you that. Sooner or later you will join IP gas pipeline.
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Jul 27, 2015 04:52am
@Justice who pulled out of IPI gas pipline under US pressure.
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Jul 27, 2015 05:46am
@Blue Saffron : Pakistan economy is gigantic compared to Iran? Iran GDP is $420 billion & Pakistan GDP is $240 billion. Stop spreading misinformation & check facts.
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Jul 27, 2015 05:48am
@Blue Saffron : What a joke, India does not owe anything it can't pay. It's foreign reserves are more than $350 billion, which is $110 billion more than the GDP of Pakistan.
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