Pakistan to explore new Iran trade avenues

Minister says SCO meeting to help find new opportunities

ISLAMABAD:

A trade delegation would visit Tehran in the near future as Pakistan sought

to pursue "non-sanctioned" routes in the trade ties with Iran and other regional partners under the umbrella of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO).

In an exclusive interview with IRNA on the eve of the 23rd meeting of the trade ministers of the SCO countries in Islamabad, Commerce Minister Jam Kamal Khan said that Pakistan looked forward for close cooperation with new government in Iran.

"We are determined to pursue non-sanctioned routes in trade relations with Iran and our regional partners under the umbrella of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, said Kamal, who is a native of Balochistan, which borders with Iran.

"The visit of the Pakistani delegation to Iran is still

on our agenda, trade committees are active at high levels as well as between the two provinces [Pakistan's Balochistan and Iran's Sistan-Baluchistan]," he said.

The visit of the Pakistan delegation was planned much earlier, but it was postponed due to the tragic death of the President Ibrahim Raisi and his colleagues, earlier this year, according to the minister.

During the visit of late President Dr Raisi to Pakistan, the two countries discussed measures to strengthen trade and the removal of obstacles. "We are trying to find different solutions to … we will be special for non-sanctioned routes," he said.

Pakistan is hosting the 23rd meeting of the ministers of trade and economic affairs of the SCO countries. Jam Kamal Khan termed the upcoming meeting "very important with the presence of the key delegations.

"We will have Shanghai this week in Islamabad, which is considered very important considering the current situation in the region and various scenarios surrounding economic developments in the world and the region," he said.

"The presence of strong delegations such as China and Russia, as well as our neighbour Iran… is an ideal opportunity to find new opportunities … and use effective methods in the field of trade, economic and provides exchange of delegations."

At the meeting, he added, Pakistan would follow an effective agenda to strengthen the livelihood of the regional peoples. "This development will be an opportunity to help develop regional relations and secure our common interests," the minister stated.

"We are sure that there will be important consultations with Iranian officials on the sidelines of the meeting of trade ministers on bilateral trade and economic relations, including exploitation of border markets," he added.