Pakistan Calls for Efforts to Remove Trade Barriers With Iran

Finance Minister of Pakistan Miftah Ismail said on Wednesday that Islamabad is working to remove obstacles to trade ties, especially finding an alternative solution to banking relations with Tehran. Miftah Ismail met and held talks with the Islamic Republic of Iran’s Ambassador to Pakistan Muhammad Ali Husseini in Islamabad, Pakistan. The two sides reviewed the latest developments related to bilateral ties and the Joint Economic Commission, whose 21st meeting is scheduled for August in Islamabad. Husseini noted that Iran is ready to develop cooperation with Pakistan and believes in a policy of interaction with neighbors based on securing common interests. Calling the economy of Iran and Pakistan complementary, he called for strengthening cooperation in the fields of oil and gas. Referring to some obstacles in cooperation between the two countries, particularly in the monetary and financial sectors, the Iranian Ambassador called for a review of alternative plans for payments.

He added that given the 21st meeting of the Joint Economic Commission of Iran and Pakistan, this will be the best opportunity to share solutions and remove obstacles that need to be held before holding technical talks. Pointing to Iran-Pakistan joint ventures in the past, Hosseini demanded the elimination of investment issues and the use of joint ventures’ capacities in facilitating trade ties.
Miftah Ismail, for his part, said that Islamabad is seeking to remove obstacles and problems in the path of trade ties between the two states while working to find alternative solutions to banking relations. Referring to Pakistani energy minister’s recent visit to Tehran, he called the results a success and expressed pleasure at the launch of the ECO ITI freight train line, which will promote trade relations among the three states, including Iran, Pakistan, and Turkey. - Kayhan