PM Shehbaz, Iranian president exchange Eid greetings, vow to boost ties

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday held a telephonic conversation with Iranian President Seyyed Ebrahim Raisi and exchanged with him Eid greetings besides discussing bilateral relations including the Kashmir dispute.

Underscoring the significance of historic ties between the two countries, marked by geographic proximity, shared history and mutual understanding, the prime minister reaffirmed his government’s strong commitment to boost bilateral relations in all areas of mutual cooperation, including trade, energy, electricity and people-to-people contacts.

He added that the early convening of Joint Economic Commission (JEC) would further strengthen economic linkages between the two countries.

The prime minister also expressed the hope that Border Sustenance Markets would soon become functional to facilitate livelihood in the border region.

PM Shehbaz expressed gratitude to the Iranian leadership for extending timely support and lending IL-76 aircraft to Pakistan to help extinguish forest fires in Balochistan province.

Appreciating Iran’s cooperation to facilitate visit of Pakistani pilgrims every year, the prime minister emphasised the importance of further enhancing people-to-people exchanges.

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PM Shehbaz appreciated Iran’s steadfast support on the Jammu and Kashmir dispute especially by the Supreme Leader of Iran, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

President Raisi thanked the prime minister for Eid felicitations and assured of Iranian cooperation in further intensifying bilateral trade, and particularly provision of electricity to the Makran Division.

Emphasising the importance of high-level exchanges, the prime minister extended a cordial invitation to the Iranian president to visit Pakistan.

President Raisi invited the prime minister to undertake an official visit to Iran at an early date.