Iran Stresses Expansion Of Trade Ties With Pakistan

Chabahar, April 3, IRNA - Deputy Head of the Trade Promotion Organization of Iran (TPOI) for Marketing Affairs, Reza Towfiqi Zavareh stressed on expansion of trade relations with the regional countries including Pakistan by boosting role of free trade zones. Addressing local officials in Chabahar city on Monday, he noted that Chabahar Free Trade Zone is one of the most strategic free trade zones which can have a great effect on expansion of trade among regional countries and in particular between Iran and Pakistan. Pointing to the recent talks between Iranian and Pakistani officials about the development of trade exchanges between the two countries, Towfiqi Zavareh noted that the province of Sistan and Baluchistan has a major role in this regard. Iran and Pakistan have always had very close and intimate relations throughout the history. The two countries exchange delegations on a regular basis and their leaders are resolved to further accelerate expansion of ties and cooperation between the two neighboring nations. Recently, Supreme Leaderˈs Advisor for International Affairs Ali Akbar Velayati underlined that Iran and Pakistan are willing and resolved to further develop and consolidate their bilateral relations regardless of the enemiesˈ opposition. Iran and Pakistan have also officially inaugurated the construction phase of a gas pipeline project which is due to take Iranˈs rich gas reserves to the energy-hungry South Asian nation. The project kicked off in a ceremony attended by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and his Pakistani counterpart Asif Ali Zardari at the two countriesˈ shared border region in Iranˈs Southeastern city of Chabahar. The 2700-kilometer long pipeline is to supply gas for Pakistan and India which are suffering a lack of energy sources, but India has evaded talks. In 2011, Iran and Pakistan declared they would finalize the agreement bilaterally if India continued to be absent in the meeting. According to the project proposal, the pipeline will begin from Iranˈs Assalouyeh Energy Zone in the south and stretch over 1,100 km through Iran. In Pakistan, it will pass through Baluchistan and Sindh but officials now say the route may be changed if China agrees to the project./end