PESHAWAR: Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) and acting consul general at Iranian Consulate in Peshawar have agreed to take urgent measures at the government level to remove obstacles to bilateral trade between Pakistan and Iran.

The decision was made in a meeting among Commercial Attaché of Iranian Consulate in Karachi Hossein Amini; the acting consul general of Iran in Peshawar, Hossein Mailki; and SCCI president Mohammad Ishaq here on Monday.

According to a statement, the participants of the meeting agreed to hold an industrial exhibition in Peshawar to promote the products of Iran and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Mohammad Ishaq said that enhancement of bilateral trade and economic relations between Pakistan and Iran were imperative to strengthening the national economy.

The meeting discussed bilateral trade between the two countries, holding of joint exhibitions, business to business meetings and exchange of trade delegations besides removing hurdles to mutual trade.

Mr Ishaq said that a comprehensive plan would be devised to enhance bilateral trade between the two brotherly Islamic countries by exchanging business delegations, organising trade exhibitions and taking mutual advantages from each other’s experiences.

SCCI senior vice-president Shahid Hussain and vice president Ejaz Khan Afridi were also present during the meeting.

Mr Ishaq said that SCCI was striving to boost mutual trade and economic relations with brotherly Islamic countries including Iran. However, he stressed the need for pragmatic steps at government level to remove all impediments that were hampering bilateral trade between Pakistan and Iran.

Speaking on the occasion, Shahid Hussain said that vast opportunities existed to enhance trade between Pakistan and Iran. However, he said traders faced difficulties owing to imposition of global sanctions.

He said that the industrialists of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa were ready to import raw material from Iran, but they were facing problems owing to international restrictions. He said that the issues needed to be addressed through formal procedures and mechanisms.

Mr Hussain called for resolving all issues and hurdles through proper procedures and mechanisms to boost trade and cement economic tied between Pak and Iran.

Published in Dawn, December 13th, 2022