Pakistan, Iran explore opportunities to boost ties

High-level visits proposed to facilitate cross-border trade, improve livelihoods

ISLAMABAD:

Federal Minister for Commerce Jam Kamal Khan held a productive meeting with Iranian Ambassador Reza Amiri Moghaddam to discuss avenues for strengthening bilateral trade and economic cooperation.

The meeting highlighted ongoing initiatives, trade agreements and upcoming opportunities aimed at enhancing economic ties between the two neighbouring countries.

Jam Kamal invited Iranian companies and state-owned organisations to participate in the upcoming FoodAg Exhibition, scheduled to take place from November 25 to 27, 2025 at the Karachi Expo Centre. The minister emphasised that such platforms would provide valuable opportunities for Iranian and Pakistani businesses to explore trade, investment and joint ventures in the agri-food sector.

He proposed arranging high-level visits, including those of the chief minister of Balochistan and the governor of Zahedan, to facilitate cross-border trade and improve the livelihoods of people residing in border regions. He also suggested inviting Pakistani ministers from the maritime, railways and communications sectors to Iran to explore areas of mutual cooperation.

Ambassador Moghaddam highlighted progress in bilateral trade, recalling previous agreements for the import of 400,000 tonnes of rice, 300,000 tonnes of meat, 200,000 tonnes of maize and 50,000 tonnes of animal feed. He noted that Iran had successfully completed rice imports and was ready to purchase animal feed and maize. He added that flights between Quetta and Zahedan had resumed, enhancing connectivity for both people and trade.

Jam Kamal underlined that over the past year positive engagements between Pakistan and Iran had been fruitful for fostering stronger economic and trade relations. He informed the ambassador that the text of the Pakistan-Iran Free Trade Agreement (FTA), signed in Islamabad, was being reviewed internally, with plans for presentation and formal approval in the near future.

Both sides reaffirmed the shared vision of their leadership to achieve $10 billion worth of annual bilateral trade by 2028 and expressed satisfaction over the successful organisation of the 22nd session of the Pakistan-Iran Joint Economic Commission in Tehran on September 15-16, 2025.

Jam Kamal stressed that the Ministry of Commerce was actively addressing issues faced by Iranian trucks entering Pakistan.