ISLAMABAD: National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq has expressed optimism about resolving longstanding issues related to the Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline.

Speaking to Iranian Ambassador Dr Amiri Moghaddam at Parliament House, Mr Sadiq also stressed the importance of addressing pending issues such as those related to banking, trade, transportation and energy.

According to a statement, the discussion at a meeting encompassed various topics with a focus on bolstering parliamentary and economic relations between Iran and Pakistan.

The speaker reaffirmed Pakistan’s deep-rooted fraternal bond with Iran steeped in a shared history, culture and religion. He emphasised the need to strengthen these ties further by expanding cooperation across all areas of mutual interest, particularly in energy and trade, to uplift the economies of both the nations, especially those living on both sides of the common border.

Bilateral trade can be increased to $5bn a year, says ambassador

He highlighted the strategic geographical positioning of both countries, presenting significant opportunities for regional and global connectivity and trade promotion.

While acknowledging the positive trajectory in bilateral trade, he noted that there was untapped potential that both nations should explore. The speaker underscored the pivotal role of parliamentary diplomacy in strengthening bilateral relations and expressed the intent to actively engage all relevant stakeholders regularly to support governmental efforts in achieving common goal of expanded economic cooperation.

Ambassador Moghaddam congratulated the speaker on his re-election and extended him Ramazan greetings. He praised the speaker’s vision for collective growth and assured full commitment and cooperation from Iran.

The ambassador also informed the speaker about the upcoming visit of the Iranian President to Pakistan, highlighting its significance in advancing bilateral relations and enhancing cooperation in various sectors.

Meanwhile, the ambassador in a statement said due to strong economic and trade integration between Pakistan and Iran, bilateral trade can be increased up to $5 billion a year.

He said Pakistan and Iran were geo-strategically very important countries located at the junction of Middle East, South Asia and Central Asia. Therefore, the land and sea integration of both countries was of great importance in the world of geo-economy.

The Iranian envoy said in order to further improve transit trade between Pakistan and Iran, 12 border trade markets had been opened in which six had been completed and others were in progress which would usher in a new era of economic integration in both countries.

He said Gwadar and Chabahar were very important in maritime trade ties, so both countries should declare these as coastal sister ports so that mutual economic development can be achieved jointly.

He said in the same way the north, south and corridor and east and west were also very important in regional and global trade which increases the possibility of connecting the global supply chain of both the countries.

He said despite international sanctions, Iran had made great progress in the field of science and technology in which full cooperation with Pakistan can be increased.

In order to increase cooperation between the business communities of Pakistan and Iran, both sides should participate in industrial exhibitions like the trade and industrial exhibition being held in Tehran in April this year.

The business community from Pakistan, especially the Islamabad Chamber of Commerce, should participate in the exhibition and increase cooperation with the business community of Iran, he added.

The envoy said about 120 businessmen had completed their registration in the trade and industrial exhibition in Tehran which was expected to increase in the coming days.

Published in Dawn, March 18th, 2024