Islamabad, In a move aimed at strengthening bilateral ties and enhancing economic cooperation, Pakistan and Iran are set to improve their transit trade relations through better road and rail connectivity. This was announced following a courtesy visit by Dr. Raza Amiri Moghaddam, the Ambassador of Iran to Pakistan, to Ahsan Iqbal, the Federal Minister for Planning, Development & Special Initiatives.
According to Press Information Department, the visit focused on discussions about potential areas of cooperation in anticipation of the Iranian President’s upcoming visit to Pakistan. Minister Iqbal emphasized the deep historical ties between the two countries and the critical role of enhancing connectivity through trade routes along the shared 900km land and maritime border. He highlighted the importance of developing effective road-rail transit routes to significantly boost the economic cooperation between Pakistan and Iran, with the aim of increasing the current $2.5 billion trade volume.
Acknowledging the strategic importance of energy cooperation, Minister Iqbal pointed out the potential of Iranian energy resources in addressing Pakistan’s energy crises, given their cost-effectiveness. He also advocated for the revival of the cargo train service between Pakistan, Iran, and Turkey, initially launched in 2009 under the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO), to facilitate trade.
The Iranian Ambassador underscored the strategic significance of the Chabahar, Gwadar, and Karachi ports for enhancing trade. He expressed Iran’s commitment to connecting the Chabahar port with the Zahidan railway network, which could further extend connectivity to Russia and Central Asian countries. The discussion also brought up the Gabd-Rimdan border crossing as a more viable option for trade compared to the Quetta-Taftan route, considering its proximity to Gwadar and Chabahar.
Furthermore, Minister Iqbal proposed adopting Iran’s vocational and technical training mechanisms to empower the unemployed youth in Balochistan, reflecting a broader vision for socio-economic development and cooperation. Both sides agreed that strengthened bilateral ties could play a significant role in reducing terrorism and extremist activities in the region, paving the way for a more prosperous and stable future.