GWADAR: Pakistan and Iran have agreed to complete pilot projects for establishing joint markets in border areas of the two counties.

A delegation of the Iranian government met Pakistani officials here on Wednesday and discussed the projects related to bilateral trade.

The meeting reviewed progress on the proposed joint border markets.

Gwadar Deputy Com­missioner retired Major Abdul Kabir Khan Zarkoon told the meeting that with the setting up the joint border markets, economic activities would increase on both sides of the border and local people would get jobs.

“With the opening of joint border markets edible items would be available easily in the border towns of Pakistan and Iran,” he said.

The Iranian government was represented in the meeting by officials of border affairs and trade and commerce from Negor, Chabahar and Pishian areas of Iran.

Kech Deputy Comm­issioner Ilyas Khan Kabzai, the commanding officer of the Frontier Corps, the assistant commissioner of Gwadar and other officials concerned also attended the meeting.

On Sunday, the trade gate between Pakistan and Iran at Taftan in Chagai district was reopened. According to officials, the trade gate, commonly known as Zero Point Gate, was closed by the Iranian authorities about four months ago.

Published in Dawn, February 4th, 2021