‘Trade between Iran, Pakistan must expand’

Majid Mohibi says 7th joint trade border meeting will have a good impact

QUETTA: Majid Mohibi, deputy governor of Iran’s Sistan Baluchestan province, has said there are historical, religious, cultural, linguistic and trade relations between the people settled on both sides of the Pakistan-Iran border and these ties will not be allowed to be weakened in any case.

“Promotion of bilateral trade lies in excellent relations between the people involved in this sector,” he said while speaking to members of the Quetta Chamber of Commerce and Industry during a visit to Balochistan.

He said a separate counter is being established at Taftan border.  Authorities of Pakistan’s Balochistan province and Sistan-Balochistan will hold 7th joint trade border meeting in Zahedan which will be a major breakthrough for the business community, he said.

Earlier, Chamber of Commerce Senior Vice President Badruddin Kakar and other trade leaders – Juma Khan Badzai, Salahuddin Khalji, Syed Abdul Rahman Shah Agha, Haji Janan Achakzai and others – briefed the Iranian delegation regarding problems and suggested solutions to promote bilateral trade.

On the occasion, Badruddin Kakar said the trade relationship between the two countries should continue year after year, but it is important that time constraints be overcome.

“Increase in the number of items exported from Pakistan to Iran is necessary. There is a need to initiate direct flights and establish a banking system as well as resolution of  others issues between the two countries on urgent basis.”

He said there should be no ban on export of rice or any other item to Iran.

“Ban on exports is not a good omen for bilateral trade and trade goals set by the two countries,” he said, adding that the State Bank officials have agreed to attend 7th Joint Border Summit. He said a banking system between Pakistan and Iran would benefit the people belonging to the two countries.

“The Iranian Consul General is like a member of the Chamber of Commerce and industrialists belonging to Balochistan. Whatever problems the traders face in Iran, they inform the Chamber of Commerce,” said Mohibi.

He hoped that the province would be enhanced and developed under the leadership of the present chief minister of Balochistan. Mohibi said the 7th joint trade border meeting would have a good impact on bilateral trade relations and would prove to be an important milestone in this regard.

Export restrictions are in place during the four months when rice is produced in Iran, he said, adding that efforts are being made to create separate counters for the people involved in trade at Tuftan border. The issue will be resolved soon, he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 23^rd, 2019.