Pakistan and Iran reaffirmed their trade cooperation commitment during the 10th Joint Trade Committee meeting held in Islamabad
By Pervaiz Mughal
ISLAMABAD: Iran has reaffirmed its commitment to increasing bilateral trade with Pakistan to $10 billion, as both countries moved to strengthen economic cooperation through greater investment, private sector participation and improved trade links.
The commitment was made during the 10th meeting of the Pakistan-Iran Joint Trade Committee held in Islamabad. The meeting was co-chaired by Pakistan’s Commerce Minister Jam Kamal and Iran’s Minister of Industry, Mine and Trade Dr Mohammad Atabak.
Officials from both sides discussed measures to expand commercial relations and remove obstacles affecting cross-border trade. They agreed that stronger economic engagement between the two neighboring countries required practical steps to improve connectivity, encourage businesses and create new opportunities for investors.
Jam Kamal said the meeting had provided a platform to prepare a roadmap for taking economic cooperation to a new stage. He said Pakistan and Iran shared historic ties that needed to be transformed into a stronger economic partnership based on trade and investment.
The commerce minister stressed the need for the early completion of the Pakistan-Iran Free Trade Agreement. He said resolving issues related to border logistics, customs procedures and cargo movement was essential for increasing trade volume.
He added that the establishment of joint border markets and the introduction of electronic data interchange systems would help simplify trade processes and boost commercial activities between the two countries. He said businesses on both sides were willing to expand cooperation, but governments needed to ensure a stable and predictable environment.
In a joint statement, Dr Atabak described Pakistan as a long-term strategic trade partner and reiterated Tehran’s commitment to achieving the $10 billion trade target. The Iranian minister also showed interest in expanding logistics cooperation through Karachi and Gwadar ports.
The Iranian minister said stronger regional connectivity, electricity trade and the early finalization of the Free Trade Agreement could open new economic avenues for both countries. The discussions reflected a renewed effort by Islamabad and Tehran to move beyond traditional ties and build a more dynamic economic relationship.
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