Businesspersons call for more Pakistan-Iran trade routes
Trucks carrying goods destined for Afghanistan's second biggest city line up near Chaman, in Pakistan, waiting to cross the border. Traders say they are being taxed by the Taliban as well as Afghan government officials, and also face extortion or robbery from highway bandits. PHOTO: AFP
Balochistan’s business community has called for the establishment of more trade routes between Pakistan and Iran to boost economic activities and bilateral trade between the two countries.
A two-day meeting of the 9th Joint Border Trade Committee was held in Zahedan, Iran on Wednesday.
A Pakistani trade delegation is visiting the neighboring country to boost bilateral trade between the two countries.
The 23-member delegation of the Quetta Chamber of Commerce and Industry is being led by President Fida Hussain Dashti.
Chief Collector Customs of Pakistan Muhammad Sadiq, Deputy Commissioner Chaghi Inamul Haq, DG Fisheries Tariqur Rehman, DS Pakistan Railways Nisar Ahmed, Deputy Director FIA Bashir Ahmed Soomro, and others are also part of the delegation.
Top Iranian trade officials also attended the joint border trade committee meeting, which discussed ways and means to improve and boost trade activities at the border.
During the meeting, Fida Hussain Dashti briefed the participants on the current state of trade and difficulties on the Pak-Iran border.
Dashti said that Pakistan and Iran are two brotherly Islamic neighbors having a long chain of border trade.
The trade between Iran and Balochsitan has been there in one form or the other and but even today there is a need for a conducive environment for business activities, said.
The two sides underlined the need for building more trade gateways for the business communities and people.
For Mashkeel, Panjgur and Bilangur in Kech district, it was suggested to set up industrial zones at Mirjawa and Ramdan border on the Iranian side while Taftan and Kaldan border on the Pakistani side.
It was agreed to create more facilities. The two countries decided to increase trade routes and encourage free trade. The meeting also requested the Iranian authorities to increase the supply of electricity in Makran to address the grievances of the people of Panjgur, Turbat, and Gwadar.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 2nd, 2022.