Pakistan, Iran move to deepen agriculture trade as meat, rice exports take centre stage

Pakistan and Iran on Tuesday agreed to strengthen bilateral cooperation in agriculture and expand trade in key food commodities, following a high-level meeting between officials from both countries aimed at accelerating existing economic engagements.

The development came during a meeting between Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research Rana Tanveer Hussain and Iranian Minister of Agriculture Jihad Gholamreza Nouri Ghezeljeh, where both sides reviewed ongoing collaboration and discussed new opportunities in agricultural trade.

Discussions focused on broadening cooperation in agriculture, livestock, food security, agricultural research and trade facilitation, with both countries reaffirming their commitment to convert earlier agreements into practical outcomes for producers, traders and consumers.

During the talks, the Pakistani minister recalled his 2025 visit to Iran, noting that both sides had already identified key areas for expanding agricultural trade, particularly in commodities such as rice, mangoes and meat. He emphasised Pakistan’s production capacity and its ability to meet demand in the Iranian market with quality agricultural exports.

The Iranian side expressed particular interest in importing meat from Pakistan, stating that the country could potentially meet up to 60 percent of Iran’s meat import requirements. Iranian officials highlighted confidence in Pakistan’s livestock sector and stressed the need for efficient mechanisms to ensure stable and uninterrupted supply chains.

Both ministers reviewed progress under previous bilateral understandings and agreed that commitments outlined in the joint communiqué should be implemented within the next two months. They also instructed relevant departments to remove procedural bottlenecks and expedite necessary approvals to facilitate trade growth.

The two sides also discussed the status of the Pakistan-Iran Joint Working Committee on Agriculture, with Iran calling for the body to be made fully operational to ensure timely execution of agreed targets. Regular coordination meetings between technical teams were also agreed upon.

Officials said the discussions underscored the importance of agricultural cooperation in supporting regional food security, improving investment flows, enabling technology transfer and strengthening long-term economic ties between the two neighbours.

Both countries reiterated their intent to deepen institutional linkages, encourage private-sector participation and enhance connectivity to unlock the full potential of bilateral agricultural trade.