Islamabad-Tehran ties take a quantum leap

Shehbaz, Raisi jointly inaugurate market, 100MW transmission line

PISHIN:

 

وزیراعظم شہباز شریف اور ایرانی صدر کی باڈر پر ملاقات اور منصوبوں کا افتتاحhttps://t.co/Q72KwToAFV

— PMLN (@pmln_org) May 18, 2023

 

Read Pakistan, Iran agree on power tariff

: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday said that the inauguration of the Mand-Pishin border market and the 100-megawatt Gabd-Polan power transmission line added a new chapter to the Pakistan-Iran relationship.

The prime minister, who along with Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi inaugurated the Gabd-Polan transmission line, told the ceremony that the project would benefit the people of Gwadar and bring in socioeconomic development.

The prime minister also thanked the energy ministers of the two countries and the relevant organisations for their efforts to complete the otherwise halted project in a record time.

The prime minister believed that there existed huge potential for bilateral energy and petroleum projects and expressed the hope that the two countries would make all-out efforts to tap the potential for benefit of the two people.

Regarding the Pishin-Mand border market, he said such six markets would be developed in the region to usher in a new era of progress. “This will prove to be a milestone for bilateral relationship,” he remarked.

The prime minister told the gathering that during his meeting with President Raisi earlier in the day, he had discussed cooperation in the solar energy sector as the Iranian leader also assured cooperation.

He said the delegations from both the sides would visit each other to work out the solar energy projects. The prime minister said he also extended an invitation to the Iranian president which he accepted.

Calling for maximum efforts to exploit the potential, the prime minister assured the Iranian president of his support and cooperation in the journey. He said the leadership from both sides would have to bring about a revolution of development for the benefit of two countries.

To a suggestion by the Iranian president, the prime minister assured him of taking measures to create a joint security mechanism in order to enemies thwart nefarious designs aimed at undermining bilateral ties.

In his address, the Iranian president said the Pak-Iran relations were strengthening, as both the countries were bound in a religious bond. He said Iran desired enhance cooperation with Pakistan in the energy sector.

He congratulated the Government of Pakistan on the completion of the 100MW power transmission project which, he hoped, would beget employment opportunities for people in the area.

Coming to the regional situation, he called for the resolution of regional disputes through dialogue to achieve durable peace.

The Mand-Pishin border sustenance market is one of the six border markets which will be constructed along the Pak-Iran common border.

The market will provide a thriving platform for increasing cross-border trade, fostering economic growth, and opening up new avenues of opportunity for local businesses.

The two leaders also planted a sapling in the premises of the border market as a gesture to stride forward in the bilateral relationship between the two countries.

Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Power Minister Khurram Dastagir, Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb and senior officials of Pakistan and Iran were present.

Meanwhile, the prime minister said that Pakistan and Iran had decided to finalise the Free Trade Agreement soon to exploit the immense potential in trade and investment.

The bilateral ties and cooperation were discussed in a meeting between Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi after the two leaders inaugurated the Mand-Pishin border market.

Following the “very productive and positive” meeting, the prime minister told a gathering of local elders that the two sides had decided to move forward in the areas of trade, investment, information technology, agriculture and other sectors.

The two leaders also decided to exploit the potential for cooperation in the power transmission. He told the gathering that on his suggestion, the Iranian president also assured to move forward for enhancing cooperation in the solar energy sector.

The prime minister said that during the meeting, he also put forward the suggestions regarding the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and that the two sided would take measures for implementation of the decisions taken in the meeting. APP