ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Iran have agreed to enhance interconnectivity by improving road and rail infrastructure and developing ports, officials said after a meeting between Federal Minister for Commerce Jam Kamal Khan and Iran’s Minister of Industry, Mine and Trade Seyed Mohammad Atabak.
Atabak noted that bilateral trade has improved since the visit of Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian to Pakistan. He said the $10 billion trade target is achievable through mutual efforts and enhanced people-to-people contact.
Minister Kamal described the progress as a reflection of Iran’s trust in Pakistan, highlighting consistent high-level visits as part of a “progressive approach” toward achieving trade goals. He added that the upcoming Joint Economic Commission (JEC) meeting will identify ways to remove obstacles to trade activities.
The ministers also emphasized the need for barter trade. Kamal stressed the importance of signing a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and activating border markets, noting that the final list of commodities for trade is being finalized.
He further said that the private sector is being facilitated to expand trade volumes, with a significant rise in Pakistani rice and meat exports to Iran in recent months. In August, both countries committed to strengthening economic partnership by signing 12 agreements and memoranda of understanding covering trade, energy, connectivity, and cultural cooperation.
