Iran’s Ambassador to Pakistan, Dr. Raza Amiri Moghaddam, recently extended a courtesy visit to Prof. Ahsan Iqbal, the Minister for Planning, Development, and Special Initiatives. This meeting was marked by discussions on potential areas of collaboration in anticipation of the upcoming visit by Iran’s President to Pakistan.
Highlighting the longstanding relations between the two nations, Minister Ahsan Iqbal stressed the significance of bolstering connectivity through trade routes, given the substantial 900-kilometer shared land and maritime border. He emphasized the necessity of efficient road and rail transit routes to enhance economic cooperation, aiming to significantly increase the current $2.5 billion trade volume between Pakistan and Iran.
Recognizing Iran’s energy resources as pivotal, Minister Iqbal proposed leveraging them to address Pakistan’s energy challenges, noting the cost-effectiveness of Iranian energy sources. He also advocated for the revival of the cargo train service between Pakistan, Iran, and Turkey, initiated in 2009 under the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO).
In response, the Iranian ambassador acknowledged the strategic importance of ports like Chabahar, Gwadar, and Karachi for trade and affirmed Iran’s commitment to connecting Chabahar port with the Zahidan railway network, potentially extending connectivity to Russia and Central Asian countries. The Gabd-Rimdan border crossing was identified as a preferable option over Quetta-Taftan due to its proximity to Gwadar and Chabahar.
Furthermore, Minister Ahsan Iqbal proposed adopting Iran’s vocational and technical training mechanisms to empower unemployed youth in Balochistan. Both sides concurred that strengthening bilateral ties could play a significant role in reducing tendencies of terrorism and extremism in the region.
