QUETTA: Iranian Consul General in Quetta Darwish Vandane has urged the media to play its due role to strengthen ties between Iran and Pakistan.

Speaking to reporters during his visit to the Quetta Press Club on Thursday, he said the media had become more important in the prevailing situation. He urged the media to play its due role in making political, social and trade relations between the two countries stronger.

The consul general congratulated the members of the Quetta Press Club on the Golden Jubilee of the Club and said that it was a great event. He said the media had its own importance in every era but in the present situation its role had become more important and stronger.

Mr Darwish said Pakistan and Iran had very old and close relations but in terms of trade they were not up to the expectations.

He said Prime Minister Imran Khan had welcomed the negotiation regarding establishing six border markets to boost trade between the two countries. He said Iran had completed all arrangements to set up border markets while Pakistan was yet to do that. However, he hoped the plan would be implemented soon which would increase the volume of trade between Pakistan and Iran.

The consul general said he had suggested to his government to invite journalists from Quetta to visit Iran so they could themselves observe the situation in Iran and meet with their Iranian counterparts. How­ever, Covid-19 affected the programme of the journalists to visit Iran, he added.

Published in Dawn, December 11th, 2020