Pakistani PM Calls for Boosting Trade Ties with Iran

TEHRAN (FNA)- Pakistani Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani Thursday stressed effective implementation of the Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) between his country and Iran to increase the two-way trade to US$1 billion.

Talking to M.B Abbasi, Ambassador Designate to Iran, the Pakistani premier pointed that the volume of trade in 2006- 07 between the two countries had remained around US $572 million.

He urged the Ambassador designate to work for the expansion of list of items agreed for tariff concessions under the PTA, particularly for the inclusion of textiles, garments and surgical goods in the agreed list of items.

Gilani also asked the envoy to work for early materialization of import of 1100 MW of electricity from Iran to meet the energy shortage in the country and for expeditious signing of gas sale and purchase agreement to operationalize the Iran-Pakistan-India gas pipeline project.

He hoped that the rail link between Quetta and Zahidan would soon be upgraded to boost trade, and people to people contacts between Iran and Pakistan.

He said Pakistan recognized Iran’s right to peaceful use of nuclear energy and hoped that Iran would be able to resolve its differences with the West on the nuclear issue within the framework of the NPT and IAEA.

The prime minister congratulated the Ambassador designate on his appointment and assured full support.

Gilani underscored the deep rooted historical links, common faith and shared cultural heritage of Iran and Pakistan, and stressed the need for further strengthening of the good neighborly relations.

He urged the Pakistani Ambassador designate to resolutely work towards that end.