Iran FM follows up Iran-Pakistan economic agreements, receives invitation to Islamabad

Pakistan has invited Iran’s Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian to visit Islamabad amid efforts to boost economic ties between the two neighbors.

The invitation was made in a phone call between the Iranian minister and his Pakistani counterpart Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Thursday as they discussed various issues of mutual interest at bilateral and regional levels.

Amir-Abdollahian offered Iran’s condolences and sympathies to the government and people of Pakistan over the recent floods that claimed more than 1,200 lives, displaced nearly 500,000 Pakistanis and affected thirty three million people there.

The Islamic Republic of Iran has already dispatched humanitarian aid to flood-hit areas.

Pointing to the 21st joint economic commission of Iran and Pakistan that was held last month after five years of hiatus, Amir-Abdollahian said “good agreements” were made in the talks, hoping that they will soon enter the implementation phase.

The top Iranian diplomat also voiced the country's readiness to reopen the Pishin-Mand border market, saying Iran believes reopening of border markets plays a significant role in improving trade and security along the common borders.

Zardari, for his part, thanked the Iranian government and people for sympathizing with Pakistan and sending aid to the flood-hit areas.

He also called for cooperation with Iran and the continuation of sending relief aid by Tehran given the massive material damage caused by the floods in Pakistan.

Zardari expressed Islamabad's readiness to organize technical committees to follow up on the agreed issues on the heels of the Joint Economic Commission.

The Pakistani foreign minister also officially invited Amir-Abdollahian to visit Islamabad for the purpose of pursuing the all-out expansion of bilateral ties.

Iran, Pakistan agree to boost trade ties during Iranian delegation's visit

Iran and Pakistan reaffirm their commitment to boost ties and finalize the Free Trade Agreement during a visit of a high-level Iranian delegation to Islamabad.

The meeting of the Pak-Iran Joint Economic Commission was held on August 17 in Islamabad as Iranian Minister for Roads and Urban Development Rostam Ghasemi headed a delegation of 57 dignitaries.

Rostami said after then that the meeting offered “new avenues for expanding bilateral ties between Pakistan and Iran.”

He noted in order to increase bilateral trade both sides are ready to establish border markets which will later be made free economic zones to enable investors of both countries to set up their industries for import and export purposes.

Iran, Pakistan close to inking free trade agreement

Authorities say Iran and Pakistan are expected to sign a free trade deal within the next six months.

Islamabad has assured Tehran that it is committed to taking all possible measures to increase the bilateral trade volume to the level of $5 billion in the near future.

Besides signing different MoUs in the fields of transport, trade, and business, both Pakistan and Iran also stressed the need of making visa conditions easier to facilitate the traders and visitors from both sides.

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